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Scientific Name Hemidoras stenopeltis  (Kner, 1855)
Common Name Mouse Catfish
Type Locality Rio Negro, Amazon system, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Doras stenopeltis
Etymology Hemidoras: From the Greek hemi, meaning half, and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the similarity to Doras (another doradid genus). 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 125mm or 4.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The black top mouse catfish is very similar to another mouse catfish, Nemadoras leporhinus, the main visual difference being the latter's clear dorsal fin with a black marking at its base. Aside from that N. leporhinus has longer leading fin rays. Key characters are deep plates, pointed humeral process (vs. rounded in Leptodoras), short pointed snout, plates along back (also along ventral midline before anal fin) and tip of dorsal fin dipped in black.
Sexing Adult males have what seems to be an enlarged dorsal spine. This is however a filament (as for instance can be seen in Synodontis decora). Females lack this feature.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon River basin.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 7.6
Temperature 22.0-25.5°C or 71.6-77.9°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Until acclimatized, the fish appears quite selective and like small foods. Crushed flake or sinking flake-based tablets best for smaller individuals although brineshrimp is taken by species around the 2'' mark. Larger, more settled fish are easier to feed and become very active during feeding. User data.
Furniture Dense vegetation empowers this fish with a much needed sense of confidence in its surroundings. Caves or dark refuges appear less important.
Compatibility Not aggressive and, as with all Doradids, sociable with its own species. Smaller fish appear to have an innate fear of larger fish and becomes very shy in their presence.
Suggested Tankmates Shoaling tetras and Brochis are ideal. Dwarf cichlids and smaller labyrinth fish (Gouramis etc) are also suitably gentile. Larger, acclimatized fish will do well in a medium to large community set-up. At any size, best kept in shoals to ensure greater boldness and health.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Sitzungsberichte der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe v. 17, pp 142 [53], Pl. 4 (fig. 7).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 20 04:50 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)