Oxydoras

Oxydoras
Oxydoras niger in an aquarium
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Doradidae
Genus:	Oxydoras Kner, 1855
Species
Oxydoras kneri Oxydoras niger Oxydoras sifontesi
Synonyms
Pseudodoras Bleeker, 1858 Hildadoras Fernández-Yépez, 1968

Oxydoras is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. This genus includes three species, O. kneri, O. niger, and O. sifontesi.^[1]

Distribution

O. kneri originates from Paraná River basin.^[2] O. niger is found in the Amazon, São Francisco, and Essequibo River basins, and is also possibly in the Orinoco River basin.^[3] O. sifontesi inhabits the Orinoco River basin.^[4]

Description

Oxydoras species are relatively large, reaching between 70–100 centimetres (28–40 in) in length.^[2][3][4] O. kneri has a maximum published weight of 9,000 grams (20 lb).^[2] O. niger gets even heavier, with a maximum published weight of 11.0 kilograms (24 lb).^[3]

Ecology

O. kneri is omnivorous, feeding mainly on insects, crustaceans, mollusks, other invertebrates and some vegetable material.^[2] O. niger feeds on detritus, chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae, and crustaceans.^[3]

O. niger occurs over mud in streams and lakes. It is known from temperatures ranging from 24–29.8°C (75–85.6°F), pH range of 5–9, and an alkalinity range of 42–142.^[3] O. niger is known to form schools.^[3]

In the aquarium

O. niger is a popular aquarium fish species. In the hobby, it goes by many names, including black talking catfish, mother of snails catfish, ripsaw catfish, and black doradid.^[5] This species grows to a large size and are often bought by unsuspecting aquarists when small. They will rapidly outgrow smaller tanks, so the aquarium should be as large as possible.^[5][6] O. niger is especially light shy and should be provided with sheltered areas to hide.^[6] These fish are peaceful, although fish that are too small are risky.^[5] This specices readily accepts prepared foods.^[5] O. niger has not been bred under aquarium conditions.^[5]

References

1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Oxydoras kneri" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Oxydoras niger" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
4. ^ ^{a b} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Oxydoras sifontesi" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} "PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::February 2001". PlanetCatfish.com. 2006-04-12. http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=117. Retrieved 2007-06-16. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.;Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.