Spotted Raphael

[HarleyK]

Howdy

I just thought I’d share a pic of one of my older spotted Raphaels. I’ve had him for about 10 years. Great cat, has cohab’ed with piranhas, wolf fish, dat, monster knife fish, tiny Endlers, RCS, you name it. Never had any problems. Best cat species ever IMHO. I have about a dozen of them in my tank, at different size. I tend to pick them up every now and then when I see the cute tiny ones at my LFS.

Just a pain to get out of driftwood if you choose to redecorate lol

HarleyK

 

[tlindsey]

Howdy

I just thought I’d share a pic of one of my older spotted Raphaels. I’ve had him for about 10 years. Great cat, has cohab’ed with piranhas, wolf fish, dat, monster knife fish, tiny Endlers, RCS, you name it. Never had any problems. Best cat species ever IMHO. I have about a dozen of them in my tank, at different size. I tend to pick them up every now and then when I see the cute tiny ones at my LFS.

Just a pain to get out of driftwood if you choose to redecorate lol

HarleyK

View attachment 1388550

Yes they are great catfish.

 

[fishhead0103666]

Raphael catfish are some of the best catfish you can get if you ask me, what’s not to love about them? I have 3 or 4.

 

[kno4te]

Yes they are great catfish.

+1

 

[litigator666]

They are great catfish. Have them for years and on average the same sizes as you have in the pic. they survived a few power outages - very resilient fish.

 

[fishRstressful]

since y’all have had these rafaels for awhile, would you say they’re content being solo or is it better have multiples?

 

[EntoStentor]

since y’all have had these rafaels for awhile, would you say they’re content being solo or is it better have multiples?

They are gregarious in the wild and do well together. However, it is not necessary to have them in groups. I'd advise it, though. The ones in groups seem to live longer IME

I have had them for 4 years, have about 14 now.

 

[HarleyK]

I agree. A single one will live, but a group will thrive. Mine hang out together all the time, regardless of age/size.

 

[adamsfishes]

I'd maybe get a raphael if bigger ones were available. The tiny ones everyone sells wouldn't last a minute in my tank.

 

[Minus2003]

I'd maybe get a raphael if bigger ones were available. The tiny ones everyone sells wouldn't last a minute in my tank.

The Irwini Catfish (Giant Raphael) looks more like the striped Raphael and gets around 24". really want one but i don't have a tank big enough