white Spot Talking Catfish

The Spotted Talking Catfish (Doras flavopictus / D. pectinifrons) is a nocturnal, micro-predatory freshwater fish native to slow-moving or still waters in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. It grows up to 15 cm and produces audible “talking” sounds through pectoral spine stridulation amplified by the swim bladder.

Tank Setup & Environment

• Soft sand substrate to protect delicate sensory barbels

• Plenty of shady hiding places: slate caves, driftwood, PVC pipes, and dense/floating plants

• Dim lighting; optional low-wattage LED for observation at night

• Ideal to keep in groups of 5 or more of similar size

• Can be housed with medium characins, barbs, rainbowfish, peaceable cichlids, and other doradids

• Avoid very small tankmates as they may be hunted at night

Water Conditions

• Temperature: 20–26 °C

• pH: 6.0–7.5

• Hardness: up to 20 dH

• Tolerates a range of conditions, prefers stable water quality

Diet & Feeding

• Omnivorous: meaty frozen foods (bloodworms, white mosquito larvae, Mysis shrimp, vitamin-enriched brine shrimp)

• Sinking catfish pellets, tablets, granules, occasional green foods

• Active foragers, digging through sediment to feed

Breeding

• Can be bred in home aquariums and commercially

• Likely builds bubble nests; in the wild found among floating vegetation

Behavior & Temperament

• Secretive and nocturnal

• Peaceful with medium to large community fish

• Produces characteristic “talking” sounds

• Handle with care: spines and body scutes can pierce skin and entangle in nets

Care Level

• Moderate, suitable for aquarists with dimly lit community tanks