Nemadoras leporhinus
(Eigenmann, 1912) |
ur factsheet for the month of May 2012
centres on a species from the family Doradidae
which is beginning to make its way back into the hobby
in the U.K. after a few missing years. In
the 1980s and 90s this species was known as Opsodoras leporhinus
but now it is treated as a synonym on the differences on the make-up
of the maxillary barbels and the groove in the fontanel not being
continuous
This dorad is best kept in groups as they will not do well singularly.
Avoid boisterous or aggressive tank mates as this is a shy species
that will hide out during the day and appear for food at night
under darkness. Provide a dimly lit tank with floating plants.
This is not an easy species to keep so you would need to keep
up water changes and good aquarium husbandry as they can be prone
to whitespot infections.
|
|
N. leporhinus
at the top and a Hemidoras sp. below (probably
stenopeltis) |
Nemadoras and Hemidoras
species are quite alike but the main differences are that Nemadoras
has a shorter snout and smaller bony scutes.
There are at the moment five described
species of Nemadoras, our factsheet of the month plus
N. elongatus (Boulenger, 1898), N. hemipeltis (Eigenmann,
1925), N. humeralis (Kner, 1855), and N. trimaculatus
(Boulenger, 1898) all ranging from 10 to 14cm SL.
Feathered maxillary barbels. Very large eyes.
Background body colour silver grey with
two blue/black horizontal stripes just above and below lateral
line which starts just behind the operculum and runs through into
the caudal. Another stripe begins at the front edge of the dorsal
and ends at the adipose fin.
A peaceful species that would be better kept
with non aggresive tankmates such as Characins, livebearers, Corydoras
and smaller members of the Loricariidae family such as the various
Hemiloricaria and Rineloricaria species.
As yet unknown.
| Sexual
differences |
There are no proven
external sexual differences.
|
| Diet |
Tubifex, Daphnia,
Cyclops. Once settled in they will take frozen foods,
flake and tablet foods
| Etymology |
Nemadoras:
Greek, nema, -atos = filament + Greek, dora
= skin
|
| References |
Baensch, H.A.
and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus,
Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany.
1216 p.
Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater
and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes.
T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA).
784 p.
|
| Glossary
of Terms |
Maxillary barbels:
Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels).
Fontanel:
The space(s) between the bones on
top of the skull covered by skin.
Scutes:
Bony covering.
Operculum: The bony covering of the gills
of fishes.
Dorsal fin: The
primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Caudal fin: The
tail.
Adipose fin: Fleshy
finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal
fin. |
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