AquaticRepublic.com - Oxydoras niger (Doradidae) All Fishes

Adult
Dorsal view of juvenile
Close-up of head
Adult
Taken at a fish market in Manaus, Brazil
Juvenile
Juvenile
Close-up of head
Stamp
Manaus
Video

All Fishes Data Sheet
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 humboldti, Doras niger, Oxydoras holdeni, Pseudodoras niger, Rhinodoras niger, Rhinodoras prianomus, Rhinodoras teffeanus
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
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.
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) 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 - 7.8
Temperature	21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Hardness up to 25°dGH
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.
Further Information
Reference	Voyage de Humboldt et Bonpland v. 2 (Title page 1833), pp184.
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 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up O. niger on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up O. niger on Fishbase
	Look up O. niger on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up O. niger on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.12.253.37
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00)