The Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish has been a favorite of aquarium enthusiasts for a long time. They are very peaceful and thought to be the nicest of the Thorny Catfish!
emma wood - 2006-03-26 HELLO, IVE THREE OF THESE FISH AND DO FIND THEM VERY PEACEFUL. THEY HAVE A LOT OF HIDING PLACES SO I DONT SEE THEM THAT OFTEN! I DID NOT KNOW THAT THESE FISH EAT EARTHWORMS UNTIL I PLACED ONE IN MY TANK THE OTHER DAY,T HE EARTHWORM WAS A GONNER! THEY GET ON VERY WELL WITH MY OTHER FISH(PLECS, CORYS, TWO VARIETIES OF SYNODONTIS, AND PLENTY OF OTHERS). THEY ARE A DELIGHT IN THE TANK.
Aaron - 2006-01-26 I've had mine for over a year now and it has eaten probably $100 in other fish. It ate the corys. It ate the barbs. It ate the Gouramis. That little bugger even ate the pleco, not to mention numerous ottos. If it fits in its mouth it will disappear.
Dan - 2006-01-16 I got my striped raphael about 8 months ago. I had read a little bit about them before i choose to add one to my tank. The night i put him in the tank he was about 1.5" and swam straight to the bottom and hid in the plants. The next day when i went to feed the tank there was no sight of him. Days went by, no sight. after about 2 weeks i still hadnt seen him, so i thought he had died and was eaten (i have a 6.5" pangasius cat as well). So after 3 months i decided to move around some of the decor in the tank and he came swimming out of a small hollow ship hull that i have. I was stunned!!! that SOB was still alive and about 3" long now. No sight of him for over 3 months!! I only see him once in a while and only when the lights are out, but now i know where to look for him to check on 'em.
Bryan - 2005-10-12 It has been a while since I've had a fishtank up and running. Last tank I had was a 10 gallon. Recently I decided to purchase a new tank now that I have been able to settle down in my own apartment without roomates (finally). Anyways I bought a 20 gallon tank and let it run for about 2 weeks then added 5 neon tetra's and a week and a half later I decided to get a Striped Raphael along with some gourami's. He has now been in my tank for about 3 days. He is very peaceful and so far loves hiding in the darkest spot of the tank. Everyone that has come over to visit has been amazed by his looks. I think it's everyone's favorite fish. I am very pleased on the purchase. I to hope to watch this fish grow over the years and later on provide him with a larger home.
JoeBaka - 2005-07-21 This is probably the best fish I will ever have. It is healthy, nice looking, and it keeps my tank clean. I had a house for it that I took out, because if for some reason if there was a freak accident and he died, I wouldnt be able to see him. I've had him for about 2 years now, and he is about 5 inches long. Greatest fish, and his name is Raoul...lol
JoeBaka - 2005-07-21 I bought a raphael catfish for 3.49 and it is probably the best catfish I think I will ever have. It outeats any other pleco I've ever had when it comes to the algae, but then at times it just doesn't eat for a few days, then I'll see him skirming around. Great fish, had him for two years, bought him at 3/4'' and now hes about 5 inches. great fishie!
Jeramy Wilson - 2005-07-14 Buying my Raphael was a great experience for me. I noticed it in the pet store and I had it confused with an algae eater. I thought it was a different type of algae eater. Getting home and putting it in the tank I stopped and pranced at it. I noticed the long whiskers, the tail, and as well as the mouth. I asked myself several questions and wondered why wasnt it sucking up anything from the ground or moving. Finally, I noticed that it was just a peaceful Raphael Catfish. It does not harm anybody and it allows the other fish to be around it and move it and etc. I have only had it for a week and i hope to keep it as long as the rest of the stories i've read. Its a great fish to have and to have experiences with.
MARIONNA - 2005-04-28 I JUST BOUGHT MY RAPHAEL. HE IS VERY PRIVATE I SHOULD SAY. I HAVE HAD HIM NOW FOR A WEEK AND ALL HE DOES IS CHILL IN ONE OF MY ORNAMENTS. HE WILL ONLY COME OUT WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. SO ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF HE WILL BE ONE OF YOUR ALL WONDERFUL STORIES.
E & T - 2005-04-27 We have two of them, the 1st one we got last year was a real baby about 1/2 inch long. About a week later it had a growth spree,it got to be a inch. We then went and got our 2nd one, it too was a baby. we have strange water where we live (we think)because within 2 full months one of them reached 2 1/2inches and the other wasnt too far behind in length. for a bit there, my husband and I thought that the big one was dead several times cause he wouldnt move or anything for several days. We came to learn that was normal for them. we have had these 2 now for a little over a year. the 1 first one is over 5 inches long and during its growth we suspect it was the S.O.B that ate our rosey barbs & cherry barbs, as a means of a late night snack attack! the 2nd one is just chilling on the growth thing for now we think! We have a 50 gal bow front with a wide vareity of fish in it(3 bala sharks, 1 tinfoil barb, 2 cory cats, 1 pictus cat, 1 8"upside down cat (named pete: he is all black, no dots or anything, never seen one like pete before, and we have a pleco, lacydontus, and 2 shubunkins. they all enjoy themselves and get along nicely.
Anonymous - 2005-02-05 I bought one of these Raphael. There is no doubt that he loves cover/coves. Mine does not ever eat. it is in a tank with a pictus and they get along great. this fish is very interesting
The Striped Raphael Catfish or Chocolate Catfish has been a favorite of aquarium enthusiasts for a long time. They are very peaceful and thought to be the nicest of the Thorny Catfish!
HELLO, IVE THREE OF THESE FISH AND DO FIND THEM VERY PEACEFUL. THEY HAVE A LOT OF HIDING PLACES SO I DONT SEE THEM THAT OFTEN! I DID NOT KNOW THAT THESE FISH EAT EARTHWORMS UNTIL I PLACED ONE IN MY TANK THE OTHER DAY,T HE EARTHWORM WAS A GONNER! THEY GET ON VERY WELL WITH MY OTHER FISH(PLECS, CORYS, TWO VARIETIES OF SYNODONTIS, AND PLENTY OF OTHERS). THEY ARE A DELIGHT IN THE TANK.
I've had mine for over a year now and it has eaten probably $100 in other fish. It ate the corys. It ate the barbs. It ate the Gouramis. That little bugger even ate the pleco, not to mention numerous ottos. If it fits in its mouth it will disappear.
I got my striped raphael about 8 months ago. I had read a little bit about them before i choose to add one to my tank. The night i put him in the tank he was about 1.5" and swam straight to the bottom and hid in the plants. The next day when i went to feed the tank there was no sight of him. Days went by, no sight. after about 2 weeks i still hadnt seen him, so i thought he had died and was eaten (i have a 6.5" pangasius cat as well). So after 3 months i decided to move around some of the decor in the tank and he came swimming out of a small hollow ship hull that i have. I was stunned!!! that SOB was still alive and about 3" long now. No sight of him for over 3 months!! I only see him once in a while and only when the lights are out, but now i know where to look for him to check on 'em.
It has been a while since I've had a fishtank up and running. Last tank I had was a 10 gallon. Recently I decided to purchase a new tank now that I have been able to settle down in my own apartment without roomates (finally). Anyways I bought a 20 gallon tank and let it run for about 2 weeks then added 5 neon tetra's and a week and a half later I decided to get a Striped Raphael along with some gourami's. He has now been in my tank for about 3 days. He is very peaceful and so far loves hiding in the darkest spot of the tank. Everyone that has come over to visit has been amazed by his looks. I think it's everyone's favorite fish. I am very pleased on the purchase.
I to hope to watch this fish grow over the years and later on provide him with a larger home.
This is probably the best fish I will ever have. It is healthy, nice looking, and it keeps my tank clean. I had a house for it that I took out, because if for some reason if there was a freak accident and he died, I wouldnt be able to see him. I've had him for about 2 years now, and he is about 5 inches long. Greatest fish, and his name is Raoul...lol
I bought a raphael catfish for 3.49 and it is probably the best catfish I think I will ever have. It outeats any other pleco I've ever had when it comes to the algae, but then at times it just doesn't eat for a few days, then I'll see him skirming around. Great fish, had him for two years, bought him at 3/4'' and now hes about 5 inches. great fishie!
Buying my Raphael was a great experience for me. I noticed it in the pet store and I had it confused with an algae eater. I thought it was a different type of algae eater. Getting home and putting it in the tank I stopped and pranced at it. I noticed the long whiskers, the tail, and as well as the mouth. I asked myself several questions and wondered why wasnt it sucking up anything from the ground or moving. Finally, I noticed that it was just a peaceful Raphael Catfish. It does not harm anybody and it allows the other fish to be around it and move it and etc. I have only had it for a week and i hope to keep it as long as the rest of the stories i've read. Its a great fish to have and to have experiences with.
I JUST BOUGHT MY RAPHAEL. HE IS VERY PRIVATE I SHOULD SAY. I HAVE HAD HIM NOW FOR A WEEK AND ALL HE DOES IS CHILL IN ONE OF MY ORNAMENTS. HE WILL ONLY COME OUT WHEN ALL THE LIGHTS ARE OFF. SO ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF HE WILL BE ONE OF YOUR ALL WONDERFUL STORIES.
We have two of them, the 1st one we got last year was a real baby about 1/2 inch long. About a week later it had a growth spree,it got to be a inch. We then went and got our 2nd one, it too was a baby. we have strange water where we live (we think)because within 2 full months one of them reached 2 1/2inches and the other wasnt too far behind in length. for a bit there, my husband and I thought that the big one was dead several times cause he wouldnt move or anything for several days. We came to learn that was normal for them. we have had these 2 now for a little over a year. the 1 first one is over 5 inches long and during its growth we suspect it was the S.O.B that ate our rosey barbs & cherry barbs, as a means of a late night snack attack! the 2nd one is just chilling on the growth thing for now we think! We have a 50 gal bow front with a wide vareity of fish in it(3 bala sharks, 1 tinfoil barb, 2 cory cats, 1 pictus cat, 1 8"upside down cat (named pete: he is all black, no dots or anything, never seen one like pete before, and we have a pleco, lacydontus, and 2 shubunkins. they all enjoy themselves and get along nicely.
I bought one of these Raphael. There is no doubt that he loves cover/coves. Mine does not ever eat. it is in a tank with a pictus and they get along great. this fish is very interesting