TankBud

Giant raphael catfish

Megalodoras uranoscopus

Also known as Mother of snails catfish, Giant talking catfish, Snail-eating doradid

FreshwaterFish

Giant raphael catfish (Megalodoras uranoscopus)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature
73–82°F
23–28°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
23.6 in
60 cm
Minimum tank
264 gal
1,000 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Tankmates
With caution
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Difficult
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Rare
Family
Doradidae
Origin
Native to the Amazon River basin of South America.

Overview

The giant raphael catfish is a peaceful, slow-growing tank buster for the bottom of a very large tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The giant raphael catfish owes its nickname, mother of snails, to its stomach contents. Researchers who opened wild specimens found them packed with hundreds of crushed snail shells.

Caring for the giant raphael catfish

The giant raphael catfish eventually needs a very large tank of at least 264 gal (1,000 L). Keeping one is a commitment of many years. Give it a soft sandy bed, big driftwood and shaded retreats.

Keep the water soft to neutral, at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen and meaty foods, and some fruit and vegetable matter.

It is a solitary fish, but not an aggressive one, and it coexists calmly with other big fish. It will eat snails and any small tank mate it can swallow, so choose its company with care. Its heavy armor and sharp scutes make careful handling essential. There is no record of it breeding in home aquariums.

Good to know

Megalodoras uranoscopus is a doradid that can reach up to 70 cm and around 4.6 kg. It is clad in the rows of bony, spined plates typical of the family Doradidae. Like its relatives, it can creak and grunt using its fins and swim bladder.

In the wild

The giant raphael catfish is a heavily armored Amazon doradid of large rivers and flooded forest. It forages slowly over the bottom, mostly at night, and eats a lot of fruit, seeds and snails. It is a bulky, deliberate fish that spends the day tucked against wood or in a cave.

Common questions

What size tank does a giant raphael catfish need?

A giant raphael catfish needs at least 264 gal (1,000 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a giant raphael catfish need?

A giant raphael catfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a giant raphael catfish eat?

A giant raphael catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen and meaty foods, and some fruit and vegetable matter. It will also eat snails and any small tank mate it can swallow.

How big does a giant raphael catfish get?

An adult giant raphael catfish reaches about 23.6 in (60 cm).

Related species