Black Doradid Care Guide
Doras carinatus is a South American talking catfish from the Guianas that produces audible sounds with its pectoral spines.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Doras carinatus is a South American thorny catfish of the family Doradidae, often called a talking catfish. It can produce sounds by moving its pectoral spines, with FishBase reporting basic sound units of 60-70 milliseconds at 60-90 Hz. It reaches about 30 cm SL.
Taxonomy
- Family: Doradidae
- Genus: Doras
- Scientific name: Doras carinatus
Habitat
According to FishBase, the species occurs in the Essequibo River basin and other coastal drainages east to the mouth of the Amazon, with records from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. It is a demersal fish of tropical fresh and brackish waters. FishBase notes that lower Amazon and Orinoco populations may represent one or more undescribed species.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 250 L
- Temperature: 22-26 °C (72-79 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-15 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-15 years
Diet
The species is omnivorous and a bottom feeder. In the aquarium it does well on sinking prepared foods and meaty items offered near the substrate, typically once daily.
Compatibility
This nocturnal, peaceful bottom dweller benefits from hiding spots and a soft substrate. It suits medium to large community fish such as tetras and cichlids, but very small fish may be eaten and should be avoided as tankmates.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2021).
Doras carinatus (Black Doradid) Breeding Guide
Overview
Doras carinatus is a thorny or talking catfish of the family Doradidae. According to FishBase, it occurs in the Essequibo River basin and other coastal drainages of South America east to the mouth of the Amazon, and possibly in the lower Amazon and lower Orinoco basins. It reaches about 30 cm SL and lives in freshwater and brackish demersal habitats in tropical climates. Like other doradids it carries bony scutes along the lateral line and can produce audible sounds by moving its pectoral spines.
Why home breeding is not feasible
Doradids in general are riverine catfishes that range from a few centimetres to over a metre, with Doras carinatus among the medium-to-large members at roughly 30 cm. FishBase records no maturity, spawning, egg or fecundity details for the species, and there are no documented captive spawnings. Adult size, long lifespan and the absence of any known spawning trigger mean that deliberate reproduction is impractical outside dedicated research or public-aquarium settings.
Family context
Within Doradidae, body size ranges from about 3.5 cm SL in Physopyxis lyra to 120 cm FL in Oxydoras niger. Members share a well-developed nuchal shield in front of the dorsal fin and bony lateral-line scutes, and earn the name talking catfish through sound production using the pectoral spine or swim bladder. Reproductive behaviour across the family is poorly documented in general reference sources, which is consistent with the lack of species-level breeding data for Doras carinatus.