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I have recieved information that Rafael Catfish will make clicking or croaking noices at some period of the day, is this true?

-Soidfuf

Yep, but I don't think they limit it to a particular time of day. These cats will do it when they're upset or excited. In fact, they're sometimes known as "talking catfish", exactly for this reason. They aren't the only fish to make sounds, though.

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Yea, I bet there are many other fish that make noise. I just wanted to know because I bought one today and I was just wondering.

-Soidfuf

I wouldnt be too hopeful though. I have had two of them for over 1 1/2 years now and they have made no sounds, they are just too comfy I guess

Same here.
The only time I heard mine make a noise was when I was trying to dislodge him from an ornament.

Several Doradid catfishes will make audible noises - the venerable Innes Book documents Acanthodoras spinosissimus as being a particularly vocal fish in this regard, so it comes as NO surprise to me to hear of Rapahels making audible noises. Indeed, Acanthodoras spinosissimus was the original 'Talking Catfish' of the hobby (certainly here in the UK) until other Doradids became more commonplace and displaced it, presumably because out of the smaller Doradids, it is (as it's scientific name suggests only too vividly) in effect a ball of razor wire with fins. Certainly I have yet to see another fish that will, once having sampled the very effective armour of that species, do anything other than give it a wide berth. A reason why, if you can find it, Acanthodoras spinosissimus is probably the one modest sized (at around 4 inches) catfish that is safe with pugnacious Cichlids (though Raphaels are similarly armoured and again unlikely to be molested once the Cichlids discover those spines). Not for nothing have I likened Doradids to underwater versions of the M1 Abrams main battle tank - not only are the bony plates of a particularly strong construction, but they're covered in spines of varying lengths, and if you make the mistake of trying to net one of these fishes, the resulting messy entanglement is NOT fun to undo.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

If you catch the Rafael Catfish with your hands, you might hear him croak. I heared one yesterday, at our annual fish show.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Jason forgot to add a disclaimer below his post. I wouldnt suggest taking the catfish out of water and holding it with your hands, those spines look sharp to me, and I am sure they can do much damage because when my convicts were breeding, the cats could go in, feast on the newly hatched fry and come out, and the cons could do little more than flare their gills.

Yes, ClownyGirl. I forgot to say that the spines are like needles & you must handle it with care.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Handle with care AND THEN SOME!

ALL Doradid Catfishes are covered in spiny armour, in effect they're fishes that carry around their own portable razor wire. The BIG event to avoid is getting a finger caught between the pectoral fin and the side of the fish. The pectoral fins of Doradids are not only heavily armoured with spiny rays (and the leading edge is covered in serrated rows for good measure), but are driven by powerful muscles, MUCH more powerful than the pectoral muscles of most other fishes. The pectoral fins mate up naturally with rows of sharp spines on the body, in such a manner that if a finger is caught between the pectoral fin and the body (and a Doradid will press HARD if it catches a finger there) then you have two options ... wait until the Doradid relaxes its pectoral muscles (which could take 5 to 10 minutes, and requires you not to struggle for the duration) or try and pull your finger away. The latter course of action will result in some VERY badly torn flesh. Basically, the resulting lacerations would look as bad as if you'd pushed your finger in and out of a beaker full of shards of broken glass.

A "heads up" for all Doradid owners that should be noted and acted upon.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

ya, catfish need some excellent care when holding.

just go fishing for channels like i do all the time and u learn how to hold a cat.

but yes they are very sharp and i believe if i remember right hold a very weak venom in them, but it causes wounds to heal very slowly.

It actually isn't unusual for just about any South American catfish to make noise when caught...

A lot of Pimelodids will buzz when caught, Loricariids will "croak" like Doradids, and perhaps that most surprising noise you'll ever hear from a fish is the squeaking of a large Corydoras when caught (yes, they do squeak).

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