Care
The Chocolate Talking Catfish is a secretive species known from the calm waters of tropical swamps and mangroves, where it remains hidden under roots, rocks, and plant thickets during the day. Active by night, the Chocolate Talking Catfish emerges to feed by digging through the sediment, consuming various organic debris, insect larvae, and small benthic invertebrates. More often than not, this species shows up in small numbers as a by-catch in imports of Striped Dora/Humbug Catfish (
Platydoras armatulus), but stand alone imports of larger numbers have been known. It is important to provide a soft sand substrate in order to protect the delicate sensory barbels, and be sure to make a good number of shady hiding places available such as slate caves, driftwood, and PVC pipes for these nocturnal fish to take refuge in during the day - as they do not enjoy bright illumination. Robust plants, including floating species, can also be utilised to help diffuse the lighting, and these will provide additional hiding places. This is a gregarious species which benefits from company of its own kind, so aim for a group of 5 or more of similar size. Adding a blue moon light to your aquarium (which switches on just before the main lights go out) will allow you to spend time observing them under their preferred subdued lighting. Adding some suitable "˜dither fish"™ to the aquarium may also encourage them to venture out a little more during the daytime, and some of the medium sized characins, barbs, rainbowfish, and peaceable cichlids make great companions. They can also be kept successfully alongside other doradids. However, be aware that Chocolate Talking Catfish are micro-predators with capacious mouths which do actively hunt at night, so be sure that any tankmates are not of such a small size that they would become an easy snack. Doradid catfish are often referred to as "talking catfish" on account of their ability to produce audible sounds via stridulation of the pectoral spines in their sockets and amplifying this sound through the swim bladder. This fish is very similar to its congener
A. spinosissimus; however, they can be told apart by the presence of pale blotches on the dorsal surface between the dorsal fin and caudal fin in
A. spinosissimus, versus no blotches in that area in
A. cataphractus. Confusingly though, both species tend to be sold under the same common names. Take care when moving these catfish, as the pectoral fin spines and body scutes can easily become entangled in netting, and can pierce the skin. It is best to herd the fish into a solid container rather than lifting directly from the water with a net. May also be seen on sale as Chocolate Raphael or Spiny Catfish.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Offer a variety of meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc., along with some sinking catfish pellets/tablets/granules and occasional greenfoods.
Breeding This species has spawned in the home aquarium. An adult pair were observed digging a depression in the substrate, into which eggs were deposited/fertilised and then guarded by both fish. Eggs were said to hatch after 4-5 days, but unfortunately, the young were not successfully reared.
