Megalodoras
urunoscopus Eigenmann,
1925
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his month our guest writer is Chris Ralph,
who is the resident catfish expert on the questions and answers
page of "Practical Fishkeeping" the well known U.K. aquatic
monthly magazine. Chris is a fan of the bigger "cats"
and also keeps a few of the "biggies" himself, he will
now compile a factsheet on one of his favourites, "The Giant
Raphael Catfish" or by its more interesting handle "The
Mother of Snails Catfish". I will now hand you over to Chris.
This particular catfish is perhaps one of the more colourful of
the members of the family Doradidae, and is also one of
the larger species hence the common names. This catfish is quite
often described as being one of the "Tank Busters" due
to the fact that it can grow up to 610mm or 24" standard
length (from the tip of the snout to the base of the caudal peduncle).
The local name given to this fascinating catfish is "Key-way-mamma"
which refers to the common name of "mother of the snails".
The reason for this common name being due to the fact that when
a specimen was examined the intestine was lined with large aquatic
snails along its length. Some of you reading this information
may be wondering why the scientific name for this fish is not
Megalodoras irwini, the reason being that the name has
been recently changed and that the old name is now a synonym.
The lateral scutes increasing
to size towards the caudal fin
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Author holding Megalodoras
urunoscopus |
This species of catfish despite the size that it can attain is
really a "Gentle Giant" and can be kept with other large
or medium sized fish. They are not commonly available, if you
have the space for one or more as they do tend to like their own
company, they are well worth obtaining.
15-18 lateral scutes that increase
in size towards the caudal fin. There are many caudal fulcra or
bony plates. There are no plates above or below the caudal peduncle.
The adipose is described as continuing forward in the form of a
hard keel. This catfish has two pairs of barbels, one pair maxillary
and one pair mandibular.
It has an interesting colour pattern with dark brown markings on
a light brown background. The body and head are covered in dark
brown to black blotches. The ventral (underneath) region of this
catfish has a mottled pattern, which is dark brown in colour. The
fins are mottled or spotted irregularly with black coloured markings.
The pectoral fins tend to be lighter in colour towards the base
and darker towards the edge. The adipose fin is light brown at the
top edge of the keel and darker towards the base.
Keeping Megalodoras urunoscopus is relatively easy assuming
that you have the available tank space in which to keep them at
their optimum. Ideally they are best housed in an aquarium which
is at least 72" x 24" x 24". The preferred substrate
is sand such as BD Aquarium sand, although rounded gravel can also
be used. They tolerate a wide range of water conditions, but do
like to be able to hide away. Aquarium décor should include
bogwood and if you don't mind the appearance large diameter pieces
of drainage pipe.
There are no known documented aquarium spawnings to date, although
there may be some breeding-taking place in the Czech Republic using
hormone inducement.
Their natural diet includes crustaceans such as aquatic snails,
which should be included as part of their captive diet. In the aquarium
they will feed on sinking catfish pellets, floating food sticks,
whole prawns, earthworms, chopped and whole mussel. They also relish
sinking tablet foods.
| Etymology |
Megalodoras:
With a large helmet (cuirass).
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| Glossary
of Terms |
Synonym -
Different name for the same fish.
Scutes - Bony covering.
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| References |
Catfish Association of Great Britain, Volume 1.
Baench, Aquarium Atlas 3
Top & Middle: Danny Blundell
Bottom: Chris
Ralph |
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| Synonyms:
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| Doras uranoscopus, Hoplodoras uranoscopus,
Megalodoras laevigatulus, Doras laevigatulus, D.libertatis,
Pseudodoras huberi, Oxydoras huberi, Megalodoras libertatis,
Megalodorus irwini |
| Common
Name: |
| Mother of Snails Catfish, Giant Raphael Catfish,
Giant Talking Catfish |
| Family: |
| Doradidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Doradinae |
| Distribution: |
| South America: Amazon, Tocantins
and Essequibo River basins |
| Size: |
| 61cm (24ins) |
| Temp: |
| 22-26ºC (72-79ºF) |
| pH.: |
| 6.5 - 7.5 |
| Donation: |
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