Need some help...

Fish Hobbiest

Fish Hobbiest

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Dec 30, 2007
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I need help identifying a catfish I bought last week...I dont have any pictures but i'll try to describe it the best I can. Well the whole body is black with one single tan horizontal line from head to tail. Along the line it has small spikes. Currently it is only about 3 inches long but I dont know anything about this type of species and i want to know if I should either put it in my 75 gallon or my 29. Oh and by the way the bottom of the catfish is a tan color just like the line.

If you can help me it would be appreciated.
 
It sounds like a striped raphael catfish to me, though they have more than one stripe down it. I have one, and they will do fine in either tank, depending on inhabitants, though I suggest the bigger tank. Does it look something like this? Pics and more description would help, such as skin texture, whiskers, ect.



(not my pic! This one has a verry full belly)
 
yea thats it man, thanks. for now im going to keep it in my 29 gallon for now until it matures a litle bit since I have some large fish in my 55. So how large do they grow? But it will do fine in both in my opinion, I dont really have any other aggresive fish except for my pictus cat. Thanks tho
 
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I think max size reported is 12 inches but largest is mostly 6 inches. Apparently, they grow very slow enough to reach the mark 8 inches and beyond. I have one and it's 4-5 inches I think but I rarely see it anyway. Platydoras costatus is the scientific name of the striped Raphael catfish.
 
I agree with what Lupin said, they are supposed to grow to 8in, but mine is several years old and has never topped off 6in. Through personal experience, I'd say these fish are very peaceful and I've never had him even go near a neon with an open mouth. They usually hide, but mine comes running whenever I drop food in :D
 
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