Orinoco Talking Catfish (Orinocodoras eigenmanni)

The Orinoco Talking Catfish is a medium sized Doradid Cat found throughout the Orinoco drainage in Colombia and Venezuela, where it inhabits a variety of shallow water habitat. Named for its ability to make a croaking or squeaking sound by rapidly moving their pectoral fins. This species looks very similar to the well-known Striped Raphael Catfish (P. armatulus) and is sometimes misidentified in the trade but can be distinguished by its longer snout, more slender body shape, and distinctive tail pattern. In the wild, they are a cryptic species which tends to inhabit leaf litter and driftwood piles in warm, acidic water. A hardy, adaptable and uncommon catfish, they make an excellent addition to most medium or large community aquariums and are peaceful towards all tankmates.