I recently came into procession of a mature Raphael cat, about 8-9". after some quarantine, I placed him into my main tank with some polypterus, pbass, and a tiger shovelnose. I am looking at this thing moving around and it scares me with it spines, they look very menacing, like they can hurt other tank mates. anyone with more experience with this fish can lay my fear to rest? or tell me I need to return him? it was let go so if I had to return him I have to give it to a lfs.
some advice for raphael catfish, mainly are the spines safe for tank mates
- Thread starter dcv92111
- Start date
Out of your stock I think the only one who might be scratched is the TSN since it doesn't have scales, I keep mine w/ polyps and they pile together and I've never seen a mark on them.. bichirs are quite tough
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yeah my main concerns was for the polyp, they pile together like you say and then this cat squeeze in like it was an orgy fest. but like u, I haven't seen any mark either, so hopefully he can stay. I was just looking ahead, making sure it was safe. hate to wake up with one of my polyp gutted, to make the decision for me. well thanks for advice I hope it is all good. I hate for him to get use to a new home and have to give him up for adoption again. not really into catfish, my tsn is my first and most likely last, maybe a tigrinus if one comes about, as for this ralphael, I was just doing my good deed for the catfish world. my tiger I am not too scare about as he mind his own business somewhat, he doesn't like orgy I guess. how long u had the ralphael with the polyp?
Since I got him, probably a 2 months ago and I haven't seen any damage. I put him in my 30 growout for now since there's more cover and I figured he would be happier till I get some driftwood in the main tank, he's in there with a 4 inch albino Senegal, as long as he is but the raph is much much thicker. Been in there for a week now no damage on even the little poly
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how big is the raph? I ask because when they get adult they look a little different. the spins are really big! I mean they still proportional, but these spins are like 2" long on this bad boy. however, I do feel more comfortable with it now, that I got some answers.
Probably cool with the fish unless anything tries to eat it. The fish that tries to swallow it, my guess the TSN, will probably die. They will however do some damage to any human who gets careless while netting and moving them, says the human that has been gouged 3 times by the same raphael cat.
My raphs all huddle and don't stab each other.
I like to pick them up from underneath and hold them sort of cupped in my hand, by the leading rays of their pectoral fins. Their spines. They tend to lock them and this makes them easy to carry. But be ready if they flex, you'll have to adjust your grip accordingly. And don't get your fingers around their body on the sides, those fins will snap shut and, when they are tiny, it's just cute. When they're medium, you might bleed a little, and they make notches in the fingernails. Once they hit the 8" mark, I'd not dare let them pinch me. But I've not seen any damage to other fish. Even my Oscar who tried to taste one didn't really get owned, these cats prefer to run away in general. They WILL get violent over caves and hideys, though, so make sure you have MANY places or NO places to hide if several fish are troglodytes.
I like to pick them up from underneath and hold them sort of cupped in my hand, by the leading rays of their pectoral fins. Their spines. They tend to lock them and this makes them easy to carry. But be ready if they flex, you'll have to adjust your grip accordingly. And don't get your fingers around their body on the sides, those fins will snap shut and, when they are tiny, it's just cute. When they're medium, you might bleed a little, and they make notches in the fingernails. Once they hit the 8" mark, I'd not dare let them pinch me. But I've not seen any damage to other fish. Even my Oscar who tried to taste one didn't really get owned, these cats prefer to run away in general. They WILL get violent over caves and hideys, though, so make sure you have MANY places or NO places to hide if several fish are troglodytes.
I really don't reccomend keeping these w/o anywhere to hide.. I tried that and it freaked out to the point I made a hide for him. He would smash into the walls and other fish, even in the 70 w/o the little tight spot I made him
OP, mine is about 4 inch but is probably 3 inchs around, thick little sucker. I usually move them by pitcher or plastic bag, too afraid of damaging them w/ my bare hands (or getting cut up). Any armored cat should not be moved by net, hell I've even had corydoras get tangled up in netting and they're basically mini raphs
Ive never seen mine eat.. he looks healthy, so he must be chowing down, just have never seen it.
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OP, mine is about 4 inch but is probably 3 inchs around, thick little sucker. I usually move them by pitcher or plastic bag, too afraid of damaging them w/ my bare hands (or getting cut up). Any armored cat should not be moved by net, hell I've even had corydoras get tangled up in netting and they're basically mini raphs
Ive never seen mine eat.. he looks healthy, so he must be chowing down, just have never seen it.
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I wouldn't worry about the spines injuring another fish. I had one that i raised from about 1" all the way to probably 9" in with a couple of synodontis and they never had any injuries from his spines. They even all huddled in the same cave right up against each other and I never saw any scratches.