Gordo Spotted Raphael Catfish

[EntoStentor]

Well he lives with 5 corys and is about 3.5 in long at the moment. He lives with 5 corys and they eat the same thing, algae and shrimp pellets. I feed the corys in the day and by the time night rolls around and they are full then I feed the catfish. I know he eats (because I've had him for over a month now) but I never actually see him eat. He absolutely never comes out when the lights are on if he can avoid it. If I turn the lights back on he just shoots into his cave.

Also does this particular species breathe air? I've seen him come up for a gulp every now and then during a major emergency (like a water change) but I can't tell if he was breathing it or just controlling buoyancy.

 

[EntoStentor]

It seems that female raphael catfish are the slightly larger, more swollen ones. I don't know why. I looked on planet catfish and google, and that's the case in my research.

 

[wednesday13]

Raphs are feed hogs, both kinds, but perhaps spotted ones are often rounder. Short term it seems doesn't affect their health. But long term, I wonder... Too few people are able to keep any fish long term, myself included.

If someone really wanted to know, they'd need to comb MFK, Planet Catfish, and other forums, YouTube, FB, etc... for info on the longest-lived raphs and check out their tummy and see whether there is any correlation.

This species is the oldest fish i currently have in house at about 14yrs. Its been a balloon its entire life. Often worried it was bloat, but he still just keeps kickin. 4 residences, 2 area codes, and countless tanks later all is well. I'd wager thats just how the majority of these guys are maybe.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

Well he lives with 5 corys and is about 3.5 in long at the moment. He lives with 5 corys and they eat the same thing, algae and shrimp pellets. I feed the corys in the day and by the time night rolls around and they are full then I feed the catfish. I know he eats (because I've had him for over a month now) but I never actually see him eat. He absolutely never comes out when the lights are on if he can avoid it. If I turn the lights back on he just shoots into his cave.

Also does this particular species breathe air? I've seen him come up for a gulp every now and then during a major emergency (like a water change) but I can't tell if he was breathing it or just controlling buoyancy.

I see. One month is not long enough yet. Let's see after a year or two and especially after it slows up or stops growing lengthwise, usually then the growth in circumference becomes more evident.

I don't think these guys supplement their oxygen needs by breathing air. Corydoras I think do IIRC but not Doradids.

It seems that female raphael catfish are the slightly larger, more swollen ones. I don't know why. I looked on planet catfish and google, and that's the case in my research.

Good eye. Larger midbody circumference of females is a general trait of most catfish and perhaps other fish too because the female reproductive organs take up more space than the those of males. Not rarey this trait is used for sexing too especially in a group.

When gearing up for a reproductive season and when gravid, the females again would have a larger tummy because they have to feed more to make eggs and then in turn the eggs take up a lot more room than the males' milt.

This species is the oldest fish i currently have in house at about 14yrs. Its been a balloon its entire life. Often worried it was bloat, but he still just keeps kickin. 4 residences, 2 area codes, and countless tanks later all is well. I'd wager thats just how the majority of these guys are maybe.

There you go. First hand info from one of our Titans. Good to know, thank you, Russ.