Remarks: The jewel spotted doradid, also known as the snoring catfish, is a large, rare catfish endemic to the Rio Jequitinhonha and Rio Pardo in Brazil. This rarity can be owed in part to the fact that these waters remain mostly untouched by the ornamental trade. Only once Brazilian exporter Hudson Crizanto Gonçalves began breeding these fish did they start to really appear in the trade. An interesting thing to note about them as well is that they are the only ones in their genus, differing from others in the Doradidae family in that it lacks retrorse thorns on their midlateral scutes.

  While the jewel spotted doradid doesn't have the most striking appearance as a juvenile, typically being a muted brownish-gray with a few white speckles, the adults really stand out especially against a black background. Upon maturity, these fish develop striking white or gold spots across their bodies which makes the wait absolutely worth it. While they also grow quite large, they are mostly peaceful toward non-conspecifics and anything that does not fit in their huge mouth. The jewel spotted doradid can be shy so keeping light low and providing plenty of hiding spots will encourage them to venture out more.

  With how rare this species is and their fantastic pattern, it is a must have for oddball catfish collectors