is this a Raphael cat?

[knifegill]

They are only boring if you have no patience. You've got to turn off most of the lights in the house, then feed the tank. Then, grasshopper, you must become like stone. Move not, and the raphael will reveal himself unto you.

I've had mine about four years and he has grown from 3" to just barely over 5" total length in that time.

Oo, ohh! I do know a trick to make them active during the day! If you make rows of connected cave-like rockwork, the catfish will smoothly swim from one cave to the next to find food. Even in the bright of day. The trick is to make the whole tank his cave. Then he'll go all over the place for you. I did this in my 75g for a few weeks between cichlids. Now I'm thinking of doing it again, because raphaels are so dang awesome.

 

[Lizardking]

Here is my big boy, I don´t know how old he is but he lived several years in a small tank in my lfs, when I decided to "rescue" him. He eats like a champ, and certainly takes no bullsh*t from anyone. I guess he is as owner responsive a striped raph can get.

 

[meerak]

mine hides with the loaches all day. but it cruises around at lights off. bought these about 4 months ag0 at less than an inch. sometimes it goes out during the day when loaches are feeding. sometimes the loaches bring them food.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

yes its a stripped raphael cat! I own 2 of those same sp. at 6.5+'' and 12''
clumsy guys they can be. Reminds me of knights in old mail suits.

 

[DrownedFishonFire]

not too big into cats...got this guy with a tank i bought...

also wht would this guy be worth?

not much at all- not in demand for the big specimens. I can get big ones for free just like you did getting it included in the fish tanks- its so common for me to get them due to the fact that they live through the worst water conditions- they're survivors hence my reasoning of admiring them. My recent addition was that the guy couldn't stop raving how many diasters the fish lived through with him and called him the immortal fish. I had to laugh and say yeah. I've seen worst things happen to them and they're still going cho-cho like the train that could.

 

[TwistedPenguin]

Like everyone else with their Raphaels I love mine. I've had them a little over 2 yrs and while they do grow slow (mine are just now around 5" total) they fast became one of my favorite fish. Get along with each other and everyone else yet bold enough not to let any other fish push them around. I've got them in 3 different tanks and only see them every week or 2. I'll never part with them, they have a home with me for life

 

[meerak]

these guys are tough. i once took out my driftwood then heard a soft thud then a groan and saw it on the floor.

 

[knifegill]

Here's a tank vid I found randomly with lots of caves and a diurnal raph. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tau4AoKrC8w&NR=1

 

[DB junkie]

Just throw it in with the rays lol. They clean up all the really fine shredded up mess that rays love to make. I catch mine sneaking out on a regular basis at feeding time. Not only do they clean up after rays but they're so bony the rays don't eat em. Perfect tankmates for rays. If you dig the Rapheal you should definetly step up to the much larger Irwinis... Can't believe you keep rays without armored catfish! You should be ashamed... Haha

 

[vamptrev]

Just throw it in with the rays lol. They clean up all the really fine shredded up mess that rays love to make. I catch mine sneaking out on a regular basis at feeding time. Not only do they clean up after rays but they're so bony the rays don't eat em. Perfect tankmates for rays. If you dig the Rapheal you should definetly step up to the much larger Irwinis... Can't believe you keep rays without armored catfish! You should be ashamed... Haha

i am ashamed lol

hes in w my little fangs right now, pretty soon he will have some motoros as tankmates also...

i just never got into cats too much, but im gonna keep this little guy.

i was checkin out ur cats, very impressive!!