Striped raphael catfish

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep it as a peaceful bottom dweller in a tank of at least 170 liters with secure hiding spots, since it spends the day tucked away and comes out after dark. Water should be soft to neutral, pH 6 to 7.5, at 24 to 30 C. It is an omnivorous scavenger, so feed sinking pellets, frozen foods, and the odd vegetable at night. It won't bother tankmates, but anything small enough to fit in its mouth may get eaten.

In the wild

The striped raphael catfish is a South American species from slow rivers and flooded forest areas with soft bottoms and lots of submerged wood. In the wild it hides among roots and leaf litter by day and forages at night. Give it a sand or fine gravel bottom, plenty of caves and driftwood, and dim or shaded lighting. It likes warm water, mid 20s to around 30 C.

Good to know

This is a thorny catfish in the family Doradidae, named for the row of hooked bony plates along each side. Adults reach about 22 cm. Those side plates and stiff pectoral spines are sharp, so it can tangle badly in a net. It is a long-lived fish, often kept for well over a decade, and there are no consistent records of it spawning in aquariums.

Did you know

It can make an audible croaking or grunting sound, produced by grinding its pectoral spines and by vibrating the swim bladder. You'll often hear it if you ever have to net the fish, and the same spines lock outward, so go slow to avoid getting it snagged.

Related species

• 

  Spotted raphael catfish

  Agamyxis pectinifrons

  5.9 in (15 cm)40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
• Talking catfish

  Acanthodoras spinosissimus

  5.9 in (15 cm)26 gal (100 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
• Giant raphael catfish

  Megalodoras uranoscopus

  23.6 in (60 cm)264 gal (1,000 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)

• 

  Ripsaw catfish

  Oxydoras niger

  39.4 in (100 cm)396 gal (1,500 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)

• 

  Giant whiptail catfish

  Sturisomatichthys aureus

  7.9 in (20 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)

• 

  Cuckoo squeaker

  Synodontis multipunctatus

  9.8 in (25 cm)50 gal (190 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)