This is perhaps the most widely available of all the talking catfishes. It is an attractively marked species that tends to “talk” more than most other members of the family (producing sounds by rotating its pectoral fin spines and amplifying the noise by means of its swimbladder).
Other common name
- Talking Catfish
Family
- Doradidae
Distribution
- Widely distributed from Brazil and Colombia to Guyana.
Size
- Up to 6in (15cm) reported, but usually smaller.
Behavior
- May be more active than some of its relatives during the day.
Diet
- Wide range of foods accepted. Feed just before aquarium lights are switched off in the evening.
Aquarium
- Adequate shelters, ample planting, and soft substratum required. Water chemistry not critical. Temperature range: 70-82F (21-28C).
Breeding
- No accounts of aquarium spawnings available. In the wild, it is reported that eggs are laid on the bottom, covered up with leaves, and guarded by both parents.
