Raphael catfish

About

The chocolate doradid catfish (Platydoras costatus) is one of those bottom dwellers that rewards patient observation. The bold cream-and-dark-brown stripes running the length of its body make it easy to identify, and the rows of sharp scutes along its flanks are a reminder that this fish has some serious armor. In the wild it ranges across an impressive spread of South American river systems, the Amazon, Orinoco, Tocantins, and several others, where it roots around sandy and debris-strewn bottoms for mollusks, crustaceans, and whatever organic matter it can find. Juveniles have even been documented performing cleaning behavior on larger predatory fish, which is a genuinely surprising trait for a catfish. In the aquarium it stays peaceful toward tankmates it cannot swallow, though its appetite is enthusiastic enough that its belly can look almost comically round after a good meal. It will readily bury itself in soft substrate, so fine sand is a better choice than coarse gravel. One of its more endearing quirks is the audible croaking or grunting it produces, especially when handled or startled. It can live well over a decade with decent care, so this is a fish you commit to. A good choice for intermediate keepers with a roomy, well-structured tank.