AquaticRepublic.com - Hemidoras stenopeltis (Doradidae) All Fishes

Dorsal view of head
Dorsal view
Close-up of head
Hemidoras below, Tenellus above.
Close-up of barbles
Dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
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).
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.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Amazon River basin. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
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)
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.
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.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up H. stenopeltis on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up H. stenopeltis on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up H. stenopeltis on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.12.141.1212
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)