Striped Raphael catfish

Care at a glance

The striped Raphael catfish from the Amazon is black with cream-coloured lengthwise stripes and carries rows of bony thorns along its flanks. It belongs to the talking catfish: when picked up or startled it produces a clearly audible creaking sound with its pectoral fins.

By day it buries itself or disappears under wood; in the evening it comes out to comb the bottom. Never catch it with a mesh net, as its thorns snag hopelessly; use a container or a solid bag instead.

Good to know

• Active at night
• Digger — needs fine sand
• Outgrows most home tanks

Related species

• Cuckoo synodontisSynodontis multipunctatus
• Whiptail catfishRineloricaria sp.
• Twig catfishFarlowella acus
• Featherfin synodontisSynodontis eupterus
• Upside-down catfishSynodontis nigriventris
• Zebra pleco (L46)Hypancistrus zebra