Striped Raphael Catfish

   The Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish has been a favorite of aquarium enthusiasts for a long time. They are very peaceful and thought to be the nicest of the Thorny Catfish!

   These are a fun fish to watch as they have a curious nature. Even though the Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish are nocturnal, once they are comfortable in their environment they will often spend many daytime hours exploring the aquarium.

   They like to burrow in the soft river bottom so be sure to provide a corner of fine gravel or sand. They also like some plant cover and hiding places like the hollows of roots. The Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish will not harm plants, though some of the smaller leaved plants may get a dusting when this catfish burrows into the sand.

   It is best to catch the Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish with a glass rather than a net as they are prone to sticking out their side spines in a very rigid manner when they are stressed. They can easily get caught in a net. Not only is it difficult on both the fish and you when you try to get them untangled, it is also a bit dangerous. A prick from the spines of this fish is quite painful!

   A curious fact about the Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish is that it also has tiny curved spines running along its body to protect it!

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium

Dream Aquarium Build your own aquarium The Coolest and Funnest Screensaver in the World.

Comments from people who have kept this fish:

I have 2 of these Striped Raphael and I was wondering if these fish could become territorial enough to kill a Plecostomus. He gets along great with my other fish in the tank. He'll sit in his ship with my red-tail shark, but whenever the other striped Raphael comes by him he'll chase it off - by ramming its head into it and keeps pushing would be the best terms to put. I don't think he is even half the size of the other striped rapheal. He will also go after my plecos "OR what i have left". I have gone threw 1 male albino Bristlenose pleco and another reg. Bristlenose pleco with him in the tank, and when I saw my clown pleco get too close to his ship he went after him like there was no tomorrow. Lucky he couldn't catch the poor guy. I was hoping someone would have an opinion on this behavior.

I have two chocolate talkers, one (4") is very active and explores every inch of the tank. However the other(6 1/2") does nothing! I only see it when I'm doing water changes, loves small fish though!

I have had my stripped raphael catfish for about nine months now and I love this fish! He can be shy, he hides most of the day as he is nocturnal. I think that it took him awhile to get used to us but he comes out at night even people are around now. I don't think that he likes the aquarium light though. He gets along fine with other fish, he seems to look a lot more hard core than he is. He is also the only fish out of a handful of fish that has survived my very aggressive blue gourami. He's so fun to watch, he often goes from still and almost lifeless to crazily swimming all over the tank. He is growing is starting to have a really cute fat little belly too.

I have a stripped raphael catfish, I bought him with 2 large tetras and 4 small tetras. He has never eaten any of the fish. I have TONS of snails too. I think he eats some of them, but mainly he stays in the castle. He has a fat belly, so I'm guessing he has a lot to eat!

I have striped raphael...mine has a big tummy! hahahah...

I had two of these in my community tank. They came out sometimes during the day and also when I dropped pellets into the tank. They ate all of the snails, and the cherry barbs bred successfully while they were in there. The tank had numerous hiding places and lots of undergrowth and mature plants. Java moss, fern etc.

I got a Striped raphael catfish, and within 2 weeks i bought another striped raphael cat. i also have a shovelnose catfish, a betta, an iridescent shark and 2 plecos, and they all get along great. Tank size is 30 gallons, with nice rock/plant layout, mini plastic bonsai tree... catfish love to hang out in the bonsai tree and its roots. These fish Love Hikari sinking carnivore pellets, all of the fish do in fact! also, Do not put in smaller fish with these cats, They will eat them at night.... I buy small feeder fish at 10 cents/Pc. 2 days ago i had 12, yesterday i had 5 and this afternoon i have 2... All the cats have fat bellies, and the betta ate one too!

I bought my Striped Raphael when he was only about 1-1/2 inches long. I have now had this fish for 12 years. He is now 8-1/2 inches long, not counting his whiskers. He is extremely inactive, except at feeding time. His favorite food is the Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers. He cannot wait for them to sink, though. He comes to the top of the tank and catches them on the way down. He will even take them from my fingers. His eating habits are often very irregular. Sometimes he will go for two weeks without eating anything, but occasionally he will eat 8 wafers in one evening. He also sleeps in very strange positions. More than once I have thought he was dead because he would be floating upside down and motionless under something in the tank. Lately, he sleeps standing on his tail between the heater and the corner of the tank. He has been a great fish and never bothered the other fish in the tank. For 10 years his best friend was a very active Angelicus Catfish, who recently passed away. They seemed to have opposite personalities, but they always stayed together.

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Author: David Brough. CFS.

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