AquaticRepublic.com - Neosilurus ater (Plotosidae) All Fishes

Adult showing golden colouration
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Video
Frontal view
Close-up of head

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Neosilurus ater** (Perugia, 1894)
Common Names	Black Finned Eel Catfish Australian Eel-tailed Catfish, Black Catfish, Butter Jew, Narrow-fronted Tandan
Type Locality	Inawi, eastern New Guinea.
Synonym(s)	Lambertia atra, Lambertichthys ater, Lambertichthys ater sepikensis, Neosilurus ater sepikensis, Neosilurus mediobarbis, Tandanus ater
Pronunciation	Nee oh see loo russ - A terr
Etymology	The generic name comes from the Latin neo, meaning new and Silurus, a catfish name frequently used to form generic names. The specific epithet means black in Latin, and refers to the blackish colour of this species
Species Information
Size	470mm or 18.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Distinguished from congeners by its relatively elongate snout. Gray to blackish overall (sometimes mottled), paler on the belly. In some populations, both sexes develop a bright golden-orange hue on the sides during breeding.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Oceania: northern Australia and central-southern New Guinea. Australia waters, Northern Australia Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Central New Guinea Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there) Pacific, South Pacific, New Guinea Pacific area, New Guinea Waters, Southern New Guinea Waters (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 2019.
pH	6.4 - 7.6
Temperature	20.0-27.0°C or 68-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Feeds on molluscs, insects and prawns in the wild. Carnivorous but not a fussy eater in the aquarium. Will not eat small fishes. User data.
Furniture	Found in rivers and smaller streams, usually where currents are relatively swift. Thus, plenty of swimming space is required. Hiding spaces in the form of PVC pipes and / or driftwood are necessary.
Compatibility	A peaceful, solitary species. Can be safely kept with smaller fishes.
Breeding	In northern Australia, breeding takes place during December in shallow areas with a good water flow and a sand / gravel substrate. Eggs of about 2 mm in diameter are produced.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova (Serie 2) v. 14, pp 551 [6].
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 N. ater on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up N. ater on Fishbase
	Look up N. ater on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up N. ater on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.11.22.35
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:22 (species record created: 2001 Apr 24 00:00)