Acanthodoras cataphractus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
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This month we welcome back regular contributor,
Chris Ralph with a look at an old favourite in the hobby the "Spiny
catfish" and a host of other common names such as the Milky
Catfish, Talking Catfish, Chocolate Talking Catfish, Chocolate
Raphael or Bacu. We hand you over
to Chris now and a insight into this old member of the Doradidae
family.
canthodoras cataphractus
is very popular amongst a number of catfish enthusiasts myself
included. Unfortunately it is not commonly available to the hobbyist,
but is sometimes imported amongst other representatives of the
family Doradidae. When this fascinating catfish is available expect
to pay £10- £12 for an adult fish (2005 u.k. prices).
In their natural habitat these catfish are said to be abundant
in the calm waters of swamps and mangroves. These catfish are
most active at night preferring to take refuge during the day.
Acanthodoras cataphractus
belongs to the family Doradidae (Thorny Catfishes) from South
America namely the Amazon River basin and coastal drainages
of French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. Acanthodoras cataphractus
is also documented as being native to Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia
and Peru.
Acanthodoras cataphractus prefer to be kept in water which
has a pH in the range of 6.0-7.5, and hardness in the range
of 4.0 to25.0°dGH. This catfish is ideally suited to temperatures
in the range of 22-26ºC or 71-79°F.
I would suggest a minimum size of 36”
x 15” X 12” for a shoal of these fascinating catfish.
The preferred substrate for keeping these catfish should be
good quality aquarium sand such as BD Aquarium Sand, or very
smooth rounded gravel in order to prevent their barbels from
being damaged. The aquarium should provide some shelter in the
form of rocks, bogwood and aquatic plants. As with all other
species of fish, water quality and general husbandry is very
important, and I would recommend that a minimum of 25% water
is changed on a fortnightly basis.
The body shape of Acanthodoras cataphractus
is described as being depressed or flattened and elongated. The
body is naked and is best described as being without scales. The
body has a lateral row of bony plates which bear backwardly projecting
spines referred to as “scutes”. There are a number of
small spiny projections above and below the lateral line situated
behind the dorsal fin and extending towards the caudal fin. The
head of Acanthodoras cataphractus is large and flattened
and is described as being granular with solidly united bones. The
mouth is described as being terminal, with three pairs of barbels
one pair of maxillary and two pairs of mandibular. The eyes are
small or “piggy”. The dorsal fin has 1 spine and 5 soft
rays and the anal fin has 10-11 soft rays.
The base colour of
the body and head is chocolate brown (hence the common name of Chocolate
Talking Catfish) overlaid with some almost creamy orange markings
almost forming a stripe which leads from the head into the lateral
line and body scutes; whilst giving some blotchy markings over the
rest of the body which are mainly on the ventrolateral region of
the body. The fin spines are coloured as are the fins themselves.
Wherever possible I would recommend that
the aquarist keep these catfish in small groups of four to six
specimens, assuming that they are available in these numbers;
failing this Acanthodoras cataphractus are quite happy
to shoal with other members of the family Doradidae. In their
natural habitat they would be found in very large shoals. These
catfish are ideally suited to being kept in a community aquarium
environment with other medium to large species of fish such as
Bleeding Heart Tetras, Emperor Tetras and other catfish. The main
thing to remember is that these catfish have quite a large mouth
and are capable of eating any fish small enough to fit inside.
Acanthodoras cataphractus
are documented as having been spawned in aquaria. Both parents
were observed digging a depression in the substrate into which
the eggs were deposited. The eggs were guarded by both fish. The
eggs hatched after 4-5 days although unfortunately the young did
not survive beyond the fry stage of development.
| Sexual
differences |
The males tend to be more
slender than the females which tend to have a plump appearance.
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| Feeding |
As with all the other doradids that I have
had the pleasure to keep over the years, Acanthodoras cataphractus
is omnivorous and readily accepts a mixed and varied diet which
they search through the substrate for. I personally feed all of
my doradids on sinking catfish pellets, good quality flake foods,
granular foods, cultured whiteworm, earthworms, aquatic snails which
they relish and frozen foods such as bloodworm to name but a few.
| Glossary
of Terms |
Ventrolateral
is defined as extending from below and to the side. Scute
is defined as a bony plate. Dorsal is defined
as top or above. Maxillary is defined as
being in relation to the maxilla, the bone of the upper jaw.
Mandibular is defined as being in relation
to the mandible or lower jaw. Depressed is
defined as flattened from top to bottom. Lateral
is defined as side. Terminal is defined as
being the end point.
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| Etymology |
Acanthodoras
from the Greek acantha = thorns, and doras, meaning skin;
in reference to the spines on the bony scutes along the
lateral line, and cataphracta/us
= armoured or mail-clad.
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All
images by Author |
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| Synonyms:
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| Silurus cataphractus,
Cataphractus americanus, Doras blochii, D.brunnescens, D.castaneoventris,
Callichthys asper |
| Common
Name: |
| Spiny Catfish, Milky Catfish,
Talking Catfish, Chocolate Talking Catfish, Chocolate Raphael
or Bacu |
| Family: |
| Doradidae |
| Subfamily: |
Doradinae |
| Distribution: |
| South America:
Amazon River basin and coastal drainages of French Guiana, Guyana
and Surinam |
| Size: |
| 15cm. (6ins) (standard length
– this is the measurement of the fish from the tip of
the snout to the base of the caudal peduncle). |
| Temp: |
| 22-26°C
(71-79°F)
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| pH.: |
| 6.0 -7.5. |
| Hardness: |
| 4.0 to 25.0°dGH |
| Donation: |
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