Can someone help me find this catfish?
- Thread starter fishy12
- Start date
Megalodoras uranoscopus?
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?species=megalodoras+uranoscopus&image_id=3388
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/image.php?species=megalodoras+uranoscopus&image_id=3388
Common Names: Mother of Snails Catfish, Giant Raphael Catfish, and Giant Talking Catfish
Family: Doradidae
Synonyms: Megalodoras irwini
Water: pH 6.5-7.5
Origin: Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon, Maranon and Guianas
Temperature: 22-26ºC (72-79ºF)
Size: 61cm (24”
Sexing: There are no reported external sexual differences. My own thoughts are that females tend to be more heavily built or robust than the males, which tend to be slender. There may also be differences associated with the structure of the head as with the Synodontis catfish, but further observations need to be made.
Feeding: 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.
Breeding: There are no known documented aquarium spawnings to date, although there may be some breeding-taking place in Czechoslovakia using hormone inducement.
Compatibility: Ideally suited to life with other large fish. These catfish are not predatory but would mistakenly take a smaller fish if hungry.
Suggested Tankmates: Other large catfish such as Oxydoras niger, Leiarius pictus, Perrunichthys perruno, Oscars and larger characins.
Furniture: Large pieces of bogwood are ideal. Large diameter pipe can be used but it should be large enough for the catfish to easily fit in without becoming stuck.
Comments: 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. 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. Megalodoras urunoscopus has 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. 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. 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.
Family: Doradidae
Synonyms: Megalodoras irwini
Water: pH 6.5-7.5
Origin: Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon, Maranon and Guianas
Temperature: 22-26ºC (72-79ºF)
Size: 61cm (24”
Sexing: There are no reported external sexual differences. My own thoughts are that females tend to be more heavily built or robust than the males, which tend to be slender. There may also be differences associated with the structure of the head as with the Synodontis catfish, but further observations need to be made.
Feeding: 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.
Breeding: There are no known documented aquarium spawnings to date, although there may be some breeding-taking place in Czechoslovakia using hormone inducement.
Compatibility: Ideally suited to life with other large fish. These catfish are not predatory but would mistakenly take a smaller fish if hungry.
Suggested Tankmates: Other large catfish such as Oxydoras niger, Leiarius pictus, Perrunichthys perruno, Oscars and larger characins.
Furniture: Large pieces of bogwood are ideal. Large diameter pipe can be used but it should be large enough for the catfish to easily fit in without becoming stuck.
Comments: 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. 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. Megalodoras urunoscopus has 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. 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. 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.
So I was right! 
I only knew because I saw a picture of one in someone's tank, and I really really liked it. It looks so different than other catfish. After I read your OP I knew exactly what you were talking about.
edit: peewee posted while I was still on plantecatfish trying to find the name.
I only knew because I saw a picture of one in someone's tank, and I really really liked it. It looks so different than other catfish. After I read your OP I knew exactly what you were talking about.
edit: peewee posted while I was still on plantecatfish trying to find the name.
Yep i was going to say megalodoras and stump i think there are some pics that you may be refering to in the lets see those cats or whatever its called in the media lounge.
I may be tempted when i get my bigger tank they just look indestructible
steve
I may be tempted when i get my bigger tank they just look indestructible
steve