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Scientific Name Oxydoras niger  (Valenciennes, 1821)
Common Names Black Talking Catfish
Black Doras, Mother Of Snails Catfish, Ripsaw Catfish, Schwarzer Dornwels (Germany), Turushuki Catfish
Type Locality Probably America [Río Saint Francis, Brazil].
Synonym(s) Corydoras edentatus, Doras niger, Pseudodoras niger, Rhinodoras niger, Rhinodoras prianomus
Pronunciation ox ee DOOR ass - n AYE ger
Etymology Oxydoras: From the Greek oxys, meaning sharp and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the elongate snout. niger=black
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 1000mm or 39.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Occasionally amongst imports of Oxydoras niger there are some slightly different specimens which tend to have black coloured fins and a grey coloured body. These so-called contaminants are Oxydoras sifontesi.
Sexing There are no known external sexual differences. There are however some thoughts and suggestions that there may be some differences in the shape of the bony plates which extend from the head to the edge of the pectoral fins. It has been suggested that the male has a more pointed plate, whilst the female has a more rounded plate. There is no scientific evidence available to support or refute this observation.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon, São Francisco and Essequibo River basins. Possibly in the Orinoco River basin.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Purus (click on these areas to find other species found there)
São Francisco (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 - 7.8
Temperature 21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Hardness up to 25°dGH
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Readily accepts all manner of prepared foods. Sinking Catfish Pellets are high on the list, alongside floating pellets and sticks, as well as frozen bloodworm, chopped mussel and earthworms. User data.
Furniture Large pieces of bogwood and clean plastic drainpipe of suitable diameter for them to hide under. Ideally heater guards should be provided in order for the fish not to burn themselves.
Compatibility A real "tankbuster" if ever there was one. Quite a character; obviously suited to large accommodation especially if keeping a number of fish together. Peaceful towards other fish and members of its own kind.
Suggested Tankmates Other doradids such as Spotted, Striped (or Humbug) talking catfish. This fish is truly peaceful and can be trusted with fish of smaller size although anything without armoured or other defence and smaller than around 20% the size of the catfish is risky.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland v. 2 (Title page 1833), pp184.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Oct 24 06:10 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00)