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spiny catfish, photographed on a transparent background
Photo: Bloch, Marcus Elieser et al. · Public domain

FreshwaterComing soonUncommon

spiny catfish

Acanthodoras cataphractus

The spiny catfish (Acanthodoras cataphractus) is a tropical freshwater fish of the family Doradidae. It lives on the bottom. It grows to 11.5 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded). The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern. In the aquarium it is kept at 22–26 °C.

Size
11.5 cmstandard length, tail fin excluded
Temperature
22–26 °C
pH
6.0–7.5
Tank footprint
120 × 30 cm

In the aquarium

Temperature22–26 °C
pH6.0–7.5
Hardness4–25 °dGH
Drawn to scale in a 120 cm tank

In the wild

Water type
Freshwater
Climate zone
Tropical
Habitat
On the bottom
Aquarium trade
Traded commercially

Conservation status

Classification

  1. OrderSiluriformes
  2. FamilyDoradidae
  3. GenusAcanthodoras
  4. SpeciesAcanthodoras cataphractus

Quick answers

spiny catfish size: how big does it get?
It grows to 11.5 cm (standard length, tail fin excluded).
spiny catfish tank size: what is the minimum?
A tank with a footprint of at least 120 × 30 cm.
spiny catfish water parameters: what does it need?
Temperature 22–26 °C, pH 6.0–7.5, hardness 4–25 °dGH.
spiny catfish: is it endangered?
The IUCN Red List rates it Least Concern.

All species A–Z

Sources

The figures on this page are compiled from the references below.