PlanetCatfish.com

Hi, please ID this fish for me and his food and water requirements. He was sold to me as an algae eater - NOT. He lived with my goldfish outdoors for half a year, but since he moved indoors to a real tank every fish that has gone in with him seems to die/be eaten/dissapear. He is VERY strong and painful to touch, and croaks when you hold him. His belly is soft as silk but he has bony spines on top and sides, a bony plate on his head. Shy, nocturnal, eyes seems opaque. Is he eating my danios or are they just going to the Bermuda Triangle? He is currently helping to cycle a 55 gallon - just him and remaining 4 of 7 zebras. Will he be harmful to angles or gouramis as they are my intended tank population.
Thank you very much!!
PS: How do I post a picture of him? I am new to this site - thank you![/img]

Sounds like you have a spotted raphael catfish (a member of the family Doradidae).

Here's a spotted raphael:



More info here.

Sorry to highjack here but, MY GOD, I've never seen a ROUND Albino Cory before!!!

Me thinks that's actually a barb or tetra

Rusty

Who ate all the pies, and tetramin, and catfish pellets, and............hey silurus, are there any other fish in the tank, apart from the raphael or did the cory eat them all!!

Don't ask me. The fish isn't mine. I got the pic from the Cat-eLog.

Thank you - Ralph is exactly him. I imagine, then, that he must just be cleaning up the bodies of those fish that die of other causes, as the description seems to agree with my perception of him as a community critter. Good to know! Thank you again very much!!

I would say its probaby snacking on your community fish at night.I had the same thing happen with a striped talking catfish.