Order Siluriformes
Family Thorny Catfishes ( Doradidae )
Continued…
Genus Nemadoras.
— Nemadoras leporhinus [Eigenmann, 1912]. Synonym: Hemidoras, Opsodoras leporhinus. (English: Mouse Catfish). Peru. 8 cm. Very large eyes. Body background is silver-gray with two blue-black horizontal stripes just above and below the lateral line, starting immediately behind the gill cover and passing into the caudal fin.
Another stripe begins at the front edge of the dorsal fin and ends at the adipose fin. On the dorsal and pectoral fins, the first ray has turned into a strong serrated spine, which can inflict slow-healing wounds when catching. They produce loud sounds through fin vibrations, bone friction, and swim bladder contraction.
Peaceful species, they like to hide in shelters. They are crepuscular and nocturnal. It is best to keep them in groups so they will not hide. Avoid active and aggressive tank mates, as this is a shy species that will hide during the day and come out to forage at night in the dark.
Moderate lighting with floating plants on the surface. Sandy substrate is required. Good filtration and weekly water changes. Feeding on live foods — tubifex, daphnia, cyclops; once acclimated, they will accept frozen foods, flakes, and pellets.
Genus Orinocodoras.
— Eigenmann’s Talking Catfish — Orinocodoras eigenmanni [Myers, 1927]. (English: Eigenmann’s Talking Catfish, Long Nosed Raphael Catfish). Orinoco River basin, Venezuela. 16 cm. An interesting spiny catfish that makes distinct grunting sounds when touched. These are produced by the movement of the girdling plates behind the head. Barbels are branched — three pairs, one of which is long and located on the upper jaw.
The body is black, throat and belly are yellow or orange. The first ray of the pectoral fins is yellow or orange. A creamy-white stripe formed by scutes with curved spines runs from the gill covers to the base of the tail. Three narrow stripes of the same color are located on the head — one on the nape, and the other two are extensions of the lateral ones.
Dorsal fin with a thickened first ray. The ray and the lower part of the fin are yellow-orange, the rest of it is black. The adipose fin has a yellow-orange edge. The caudal fin is bilobed, light yellow, with two wide black stripes on its lobes. Males are slimmer than females and more brightly colored, about a quarter smaller than females.
Peaceful, should be kept only in a group, but keeping them with small fish is not recommended. However, it must be kept in mind that even five specimens of these catfishes will need an aquarium of about 150 liters. They are nocturnal and rest during the day, hiding in shelters. This fish can sometimes be observed in the aquarium on the open surface of the sandy bottom. At the same time, they look as if they are sleeping. But as soon as you touch or disturb them, they swim away rapidly. The rest of the time they look for shelters among plants, driftwood, and stones.
Plants do not interest them, so the aquarium should have densely planted areas. For well-being, daytime shelters in the form of driftwood, stones, and tubes are necessary. Due to a lack of shelters in the aquarium, skirmishes may occur between the fish, and they will constantly fight among themselves, winning back their refuge. True, in this case, you will most likely not see your pets, as they will spend most of their time in shelters.
These fish have no special water quality requirements, making them ideal aquarium inhabitants. Good filtration and aeration of the water, as well as its weekly change, are required. Feed in the evenings, because with the onset of dusk, nocturnal fish emerge from their shelters and begin to dig in the substrate in search of food. Being omnivorous animals, these catfishes will not miss even dry food. Food is taken from the bottom. Sexual maturity occurs at 2–2.5 years. Fry grow very slowly. pH 6.0–7.5; dH up to 18°; T 23–28°C.
Genus Oxydoras.
— Black Doradid — Oxydoras niger [Valenciennes, 1821]. (English: Black Doradid, Mother of Snails Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish, Turushuki Catfish). Peru, Brazil, Amazon basin. 90 cm. Color mostly dark brown to black, fins black. Peaceful towards other fish and members of its own species. This catfish grows very rapidly and reaches a length of up to 1 meter, so the tank must be of a large size. pH 6.0–7.6; up to 25° dGH; T 21–25°C.
Identification: Genus Oxydoras, Orinocodoras — Oxydoras niger, Orinocodoras eigenmanni.
Genus Pterodoras.
— Granulated Catfish — Pterodoras granulosus [Valenciennes, 1821]. (English: Bacu, Granulated Catfish). Synonyms: Doras granulosus, maculates, murica, murices. Brazil, Argentina. 80 cm. Eyes are very small. They have three pairs of barbels. They have different coloration depending on the location from which they originate. Juveniles are significantly lighter.
Coloration is usually a dirty brown color with some darker spots along the body and fins. They have a deeply forked caudal fin, which helps distinguish them from other large catfishes. The skin is very thick and rigid. Males are slimmer.
Compatible with other large fish. These fish are not predatory, but will eat small fish if hungry. Suitable for living with other large fish. Omnivorous animal. Keeping these fish in water with a pH value above 7.5 can cause skin disease. pH 6.5–7.5; T 20–24°C.
Genus Rhinodoras.
— Rhinodoras — Rhinodoras boehlkei [Glodek, Whitmire & Orces, 1976]. (English: Fog Talking Catfish). Upper Amazon in Ecuador and Peru. 17 cm. Variable coloration with clusters of black or brown spots, depending on substrate color. Dark spots on the dorsal and caudal fins. Not particularly active, nocturnal variety, but due to its potential size requires a tank from 100 liters. Soft substrate, preferably sand, as sharp gravel can injure barbels and body.
They are nocturnal catfishes. Provide plenty of shelters in the form of clay flower pots, sections of plastic pipes a third longer and wider than the fish, roots, and driftwood. Hardy plants can be used in the aquarium. Can be kept in groups with the most peaceful varieties that cannot be eaten by size. Care must be taken that the catfish does not get injured on an unprotected heater. Omnivorous, feeds on live foods as well as tablets and pellets. pH 5.8–7.0; 2–15° dH; T 24–26°C.
Acanthodoras spinosissimus, Acanthodoras cataphractus.
Genus Astrodoras, Genus Doras, Genus Hassar, Genus Leptodoras, Genus Megalodoras. 
