Orinoco spotted raphael

Agamyxis albomaculatus

Also known as White-spotted talking catfish

FreshwaterFish

Orinoco spotted raphael (Agamyxis albomaculatus) — 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: 5.9 in (15 cm)
Minimum tank: 40 gal (150 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Orinoco basin, Venezuela
Family: Doradidae

Overview

A robust, peaceful, nocturnal catfish that spends daylight hours wedged into wood or a cave and emerges after dark to hunt for food along the bottom. It is gregarious enough to keep singly or in a small group, and it is safe with any tankmate too large to fit in its mouth. Offer plenty of solid hiding places, a soft floor, and low light. Feed sinking pellets, wafers, and meaty frozen foods in the evening. A tank of around 150 liters gives this 15 cm fish room to settle and forage.

In the wild

Agamyxis albomaculatus is native to the Orinoco basin of Venezuela, sheltering in tangles of submerged wood and root in slow, soft water. To suit it, combine a sand substrate, dense driftwood cover, and dim lighting so it can retreat completely during the day. Keep the water warm at 23-28 C and soft to neutral, around pH 6-7.5. Steady water quality and regular changes keep this hardy fish in good condition.

Good to know

This thorny catfish grows to about 15 cm and is the Orinoco counterpart of the widely kept spotted raphael, Agamyxis pectinifrons, which it closely resembles. It is covered in white or cream spots on a dark body and, like all doradids, can click loudly with its pectoral spines when handled. Both species belong to Doradidae. Captive breeding is not on record.

Did you know

Many spotted raphaels exported from Venezuela are really this species travelling under the name of its better known Amazonian lookalike, told apart by its Orinoco origin and finer spotting.

Tank mates

Orinoco spotted raphael is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.