Spotted Raphael Catfish

Talking Catfish ~ Thorny Catfish

Family: DoradidaeAgamyxis pectinifronsPhoto © 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!

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.

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

Geographic Distribution Agamyxis pectinifrons Data provided by FishBase.org Scientific Classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Doradidae Genus: Agamyxis Species: pectinifrons

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking Catfish are found in Pebas, Ecuador; eastern Peru.

• Scientific Name: Agamyxis pectinifrons
• Social Grouping: Groups
• IUCN Red List: NE - Not Evaluated or not listed

Description

One of the common names of the Spotted Raphael Catfish is 'Talking Catfish' because it makes clicking noises when you take it out of the aquarium! It is a peaceful species and does well in community aquariums. Because they are nocturnal, the Spotted Raphael Catfish may seem shy and will spend most of its time hiding in the substrate, driftwood, or caves during the day. I the wild, they burrow into the river bottom and so should be provided a sandy bottom with plenty of wood or rockwork. A well planted aquarium to provide cover is also appreciated. This is one of the catfish that have sharp spines not only on the dorsal fins but on the pectoral fins as well. It is better to capture them in a glass or plastic container for transport.

• Size of fish - inches: 6.0 inches (15.24 cm)

Fish Keeping Difficulty

• Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately Difficult
• Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are carnivores, the Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking Catfish need protein foods. They will eat live foods such as bloodworms, earthworms, and tubifex. They are bottom feeders, and may also eat frozen foods as well as flakes or tablets that have sunk to the bottom.

• Diet Type: Carnivore - The Spotted Raphael Catfish is known to eat snails and can be employed to clean up snail overpopulation given that the afflicted aquarium's conditions are suitable for this fish.
• Flake Food: No
• Tablet Pellet: Yes
• Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
• Meaty Food: All of Diet
• Feeding Frequency: Daily - This fish is nocturnal and prefers to be fed right before or after lights out in the aquarium.

Aquarium Care

• Water Changes: Bi-weekly

Aquarium Setup

• Minimum Tank Size: 35 gal (132 L)
• Substrate Type: Sand - Sand or fine gravel that will allow this fish to burrow.
• Lighting Needs: Low - subdued lighting
• Temperature: 68.0 to 79.0° F (20.0 to 26.1° C)
• Range ph: 5.8-7.5
• Hardness Range: 2 - 20 dGH
• Brackish: No
• Water Movement: Weak
• Water Region: Bottom

Social Behaviors

   They are a good community fish and are friendly with other community tank mates.

• Venomous: No - Although not venomous, the Spotted Raphael Catfish is armed with a set of spines sharp enough to do damage to the aquarists hand.
• Temperament: Peaceful - This fish prefers to be kept in the company of its own kind.
• Compatible with:
  • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
  • Peaceful fish (): Safe
  • Semi-Aggressive (): Safe
  • Aggressive (): Monitor
  • Large Semi-Aggressive (): Monitor - Can usually be kept with semi-aggressive and even aggressive fish such as cichlids.
  • Shrimps, Crabs, Snails: Threat - is aggressive - The Raphael Catfish are sometimes used to rid an aquarium of snails.
  • Plants: Safe

Sex: Sexual differences

   Not known.

Breeding / Reproduction

   The Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking Catfish have not reportedly been bred in captivity so far.

• Ease of Breeding: Unknown

Availability

   The Spotted Raphael Catfish or Talking Catfish is readily available.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

Available From These Merchants

• Raphael Catfish : $5.99
• Raphael Catfish : $6.79

Spotted Raphael Catfish Agamyxis Pectinifrons Offered By: That Pet Place Price: $5.99

Striped Raphael Catfish Offered By: PetsMart Price: $6.79

Lastest Animal Stories on Spotted Raphael Catfish View all 33 Animal Stories on Spotted Raphael Catfish Add Your Animal Story

Brittany - 2013-03-06 I have had my Rapheal catfish for two years now and I am still bewildered to why he likes to swim the tank upside down and not right side up. Can anyone tell me why he prefers to swim upside down? Jeremy Roche - 2013-03-06 That is pretty common for them to do.  Many swim sideways, upside down and of course right side up. Reply

gb - 2009-06-28 We have had our spotted 8 years, and has survived two tanks, and three moves. He is truly a survivor, outlasting eight other fish in the house. He probably ate a few baby guppies and a few other tank mates along the way, but also had a few nips out of his fins taken as well. We do see him in the evenings, even when the lights are on. He seems to not mind the family room lights at all. Most of the larger objects in the tank are no match to his nightly search and eat missions. The filter tube is always off the glass, the plastic plants are never in the same spot and our little diver is lucky to be standing up. Tank is RARELY maintained and he doesn't seem to mind. Very hardy dude. Reply

Jordan - 2005-10-28 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. Reply

K. Kowal (Kama Lethar) - 2007-08-24 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. Reply

Simone Konieczny - 2013-02-16 My Spotted Raphael Catfish are, as of October 2012, 27 years old. The next one is 24 and the youngest one is now 19 years old. I find most web sites say 'your lucky if they live past 7 years'. Apparently that cannot be normal except if the fish aren't well looked after. I got all 3 fish from different sources at less than one inch in size so it cannot just be a fluke that mine are the ages they are. If anyone else has the same breed and older than 20 years (the fish), I'd love to hear about them. Thanks. Simone🐟 Jasmine Brough Hinesley - 2013-02-16 Wow, those are really long-lived fish! I don't have any personal experience keeping them, but I would like to hear if anyone else has had a similar experience. Reply

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