Animal-World > Freshwater Fish > Catfish > Spotted Raphael Catfish

Spotted Raphael Catfish

Talking Catfish ~ Thorny Catfish Family: Doradidae

• Puzzles
• Postcards

Agamyxis pectinifrons Photo © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough

   The Spotted Raphael Catfish is also called the "Talking Catfish". This is because it seems to 'talk' when you take it out of the aquarium! (Actually it 'croaks' or 'clicks' faintly when it 'talks'.)

   This fish is peaceful and does well in a community aquarium. Being nocturnal, the Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking Catfish is a bit shy and will look for a nice comfortable hiding place during the day.  

 The Spotted Raphael Catfish, like the Striped Raphael, likes to burrow in the soft river bottom so provide a corner of fine gravel or sand. They also like some plant cover and hiding places like the hollows of roots. They will not harm plants.

   It is best to catch the Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking 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!

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

Note: There are a couple other catfish that are also listed as "Talking Catfish". One is the Spiny Catfish, Acanthodoras spinosissimus. Unlike the Spotted Raphael Catfish, the Spiny Catfish is not suitable for a community aquarium as it will eat smaller fish! Another is the Painted Talking Catfish, Acanthodoras cataphrectus, which is a very peaceful fish and does well in a community aquarium. The Painted Talking Catfish is very pretty with an almost paisley type design in it's patterning.

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

Comments from people who have kept this fish:

I have had my Striped for about 8 or 9 months. I found the best way for them to come out is to use a black light. I will usually turn it on as soon as the sun goes down. About an hour or two later he will start swimming around the tank. I just bought a Spotted (my second one) and I can seem to keep them alive longer than a month.

I've kept both spotted and striped varieties of raphaels for years. They are a hardy fish, can tolerate a lot of abuse and poor water conditions. I'll add, that they are a generally peaceful community fish, but they are opportunistic and will eat small fish like neons and guppy feeders.

I have had my spotted for 12 years...his nickname is the warrior because he has lasted through 4 different aquariums and outlasted dozens of fish. He has had most of his fins and tail pecked off but he still keeps on kicking. My spotted likes to hang out by the filter tube in this new tank. I didn't see him for years because he hid in a fake cave prior to that. Over the years I have suspected him of eating my fish but I can't prove it. VERY hearty fish. Be prepared for a long term commitment.

I got my raph about 9 months ago from a friend who had him for about 2 years. When my friend had him he never ever saw him, because he stayed hidden inside his hollow log the entire time he had him. when he gave him to me and I put him in my 50 gallon tank, we literally had to break the log to get him out. In my tank he lived happily in a hole he had dug behind some large rocks. Strange thing though is that NOBODY has ever seen him eat, EVER. Everytime i feed my fish he never moved, even with the food sinking and landing on his body. At night sometimes i would hear rocks hitting the glass as if he was digging his hole deeper but thats about it. Nobody has ever witnessed him eat, not even at night..... Unfortunately he died last night for some reason and I have no idea what caused it. 2 days ago I noticed him on the wall of the tank which was rare and he was still breathing. Last night however, I did a head count (as i always do to make sure my ghost fish didn't eat any of the smaller fish) and I noticed my Raph upside down floating at the top of the tank. For a little while i could still see him breathing, but eventually his breathing stopped. The other fish are doing fine so i am left mind boggled as to why my Raph suddenly died.

I have 2 spotted Raphael catfish. Ive had them for about 4 years, but didnt see much of them! I have just recently bought a spotlight, that simulates moonlight and can now watch them both swimming around the tank on the night time! They both have their own hiding places during the day, I assumed they didnt enjoy each others company! But, they actually swim together quite happily during the night! I think they are really beautiful fishies! I love their fat little bellies! AWWW!

I've just got my spotted raphael a day ago but its a cool fish. It likes to hang out with the sucker fish upside down in the log when they are both in there, but it moved to under the branch of the log where we can all see it. Whenever I clean the tank and go to put it back in it does like a sort of 360 flip before it goes back into its spot. It gets along good with the other fish but I do feel sorry for it because both if its fins are torn and yet it still swims fine so its a real tough fish.

The spotted raphael is quite nocturnal and likes to be left alone. He greatly voices this if you pick him up or net him for transport by raking armor plating along his underarm along the side of his body. Be careful when handling a raphael as they don't like the company quite the same as a banjo catfish. If they thrash in your hand they can hurt you via the points on their body armor or with use of the long...really long spike under each arm. The raphael can cram its body into seemingly impossibly small spaces. Once they're in place they puff up their large round belly to fill up the voids in the cavity. All a predator sees is a spotted black wall of spikes. This can also make it difficult to get them moved into a new tank. They will remain wedged in their spot even when pulled from the water so be careful when cleaning your tanks/caves/plastic-decor. Other than that...just about the coolest looking fish out there. I'll be investing in a moonlight fixture so I can see him more often. Finally, since the group move from a few 10 ga.s and a 20 ga. into a 55 ga. I've lost two fish to mysterious attack. A marthae marbled hatchet (belly ripped out) and a rummynose (decapitated). These appear to be ambush attacks. I'm still working on the appropriate volume of food for this new 55 ga. so whomsoever (probably Raph) killed them did so out of hunger. Just keep them well fed and make sure they get their own food by feeding a little extra after the lights go out.

I have had two spotted talking catfish in my 120 gallon tank for almost a year now. It quickly became obvious to me that they are exclusively nocturnal, so I bought a little moon light fixture which is controlled by a timer and goes on for two hours at midnight every night. I am really glad I invested in the moon light fixture, because as soon as it comes on I can see the talking cats swimming around along the bottom in the dark. I have NEVER seen them in the daytime during which they wedge themselves into narrow crevices in bogwood I have in the tank. It really is a treat to see them being active in the moon light. I think their ballon-like bellies fulfill some function which is yet not understood by experts.

Back to Catfish

Author: David Brough. CFS.

[Home] [Newsfeed] [Saltwater Aquariums] [Reef Aquariums] [Freshwater Aquariums] [Cats]
[Pet Birds] [Small Animals] [Reptiles] [Cute Pets] [References] [Team] [Pet Links] [Pet Supplies] [Care Sheets] [About Animal-World] [Site Map][Privacy Policy] [Recommended Pet Books]