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Spotted Raphael Catfish
Agamyxis pectinifrons
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Siluriformes›Doradidae
📍 Amazon & Orinoco Basins, South America
Armoured catfish with a white-spotted black body and spiny pectoral fins. Nocturnal and peaceful. Like the Striped Raphael it produces audible sounds. Long-lived and very hardy.
Care Guide
Diet
Spotted Raphael Catfish are omnivorous bottom feeders that consume sinking pellets, algae wafers, and frozen foods like bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia. Feed 2-3 times weekly in amounts they can consume in 5-10 minutes. They will also scavenge for leftover food and plant matter on the substrate.
Behavior
Nocturnal and primarily bottom-dwelling, this species is peaceful and solitary, hiding during daylight hours among plants and décor. They are known for producing audible grunting or squeaking sounds, especially when stressed or during feeding. Generally compatible with other peaceful species and rarely aggressive.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is rare and difficult, with minimal documented success in home aquariums. They require very specific water conditions and may need large, heavily planted tanks with plenty of hiding spaces. Most specimens in the hobby are wild-caught, and breeding behavior is not well understood.
Tank Mates
Small, peaceful mid-water swimmers that won't compete for bottom space
Peaceful schooling fish with similar water temperature and pH requirements
Hardy plant that provides shelter and won't be uprooted by bottom-feeding behavior
Peaceful invertebrate that shares bottom habitat without competing for food
Peaceful dwarf cichlid with overlapping temperature and pH preferences
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, scratching against surfaces, rapid breathing
Raise temperature gradually to 28-30°C, perform water changes, use aquarium salt or ich medication; treat for 7-10 days
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Improve water quality with frequent water changes, remove sharp décor, use antibacterial medication if severe
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, color fading
Perform 25-50% water changes, maintain excellent water quality, use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, weight loss, visible parasites, clamped fins
Quarantine affected fish, treat with anti-parasitic medication, maintain pristine water conditions
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Quick Facts
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- diet
- omnivore/invertebrates
- maxSize
- 6 inches
- minTankSize
- 30 gallons
- temperature
- 72–79°F (22–26°C)
Temperature
72–79°F
22–26°C