I'm glad you mentioned the potential size difference issue between the raphael catfish and the oscar viper. If no one mentioned it I was gonna bring it up. 7 inch raphaels? I don't see too many that size, sounds like they're a real beauty.
Looking for ideas for a tank i'm building
- Thread starter AdamZax
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I'm glad you mentioned the potential size difference issue between the raphael catfish and the oscar viper. If no one mentioned it I was gonna bring it up. 7 inch raphaels? I don't see too many that size, sounds like they're a real beauty.
Takes awhile but I've seen a few get into the 8 range, they are also very long lived, as in 40 to 50 years, maybe more
Most places I've read about them put them around 30-35 years in an aquarium, which I think is awesome. I love these guys. They are not for everyone though since they rarely come out of thier holes. And you will pretty much never see them swimming around unless you remove the rocks and wood from the tank.
Personally I enjoy that aspect though, knowing that even if No one can see them, theres some cool critters hidden around the tank. My spotted is even more reclusive and sticks in his hole in a piece of driftwood even if I pull it out of the water. He just waits on the wood till i've finished cleaning or doing whatever and put the wood back in. Listening to him squeak at me from the shadows of the wood while it's out of the tank is often the only way I know he is still alive lol.
That's cute, I find if you want to see them you got to place hiding places near the glass, positioned In such a way that they can feel secure but still be seen
I've heard stories of people getting them and never seeing them so they forget about them then they go to tear down the tank and get scared half to death when they find them haha.
One guy on here added a catfish, thought it died, then discovered it 5 years later in a hiding spot!
I've certainly learned to be very careful about my finger placement when i'm grabbing a piece of wood or a rock, even ifiit looks like theres no way something would be under it. tho spines are sharp!
Catfish spikes hurt more than most other fish I've experienced, however one trick I've learned while fishing: rub the affected area on the fishes slime coat, this seems to neutralize the venom
