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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