ID. K, grab your spotted raphs! Spines on back between dorsal and adipose?

[knifegill]

I had 4 spotted raphael catfish, and just gave away 3 of them. When I caught and transferred them, I noticed 1 of the 4 has a thicket of spines on his back, just forward of the adipose fin, behind the closed dorsal. I kept that one! It's five rows of spines, about 7-9 in length. Does this indicate gender, a different type of spotted, age, or something else entirely?!

 

[knifegill]

 

[knifegill]

Pardon the gill curl, that's a rescue fish for ya!

 

[divemaster99]

I'm not entirely sure, pretty b@d@$$ though . Even more so than regular doradids (best family in fish keeping!)

 

[divemaster99]

Seems like a good choice of fish for my catfish-pile-team in my 75 along with striped and chocolate raph. PS I subbed you on youtube I'm everything fish.

 

[knifegill]

Hah, cool. I'm not really active these days. Only posting around to unload my fish.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

I've never seen/noticed this. It is intriguing indeed. I think your best bet is to re-post the question on PCF - many more small-fish experts there. I'd like to learn the answer too.

 

[Monstrous]

My spotted raphael have similar trait too now that you post it. Guess its more of a gender difference? Or could it be another subspecies of spotted raphael?

 

[knifegill]

I wish I knew!

 

[divemaster99]

Is there a way to sex spotteds? If so just compare the two opposite genders side by side and see if only one has the extra spines. Maybe you do have a subspecies, we are always discovering new fish everyday!