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Hi everyone!I have spent hours browsing the net for any information about catfishes Striped Raphael (Platydoras costatus) breeding. I have bought pair of them a month ago. And now I can see that one of them is looking very very pregnant.I guess we bought it like that.The belly is really huge, like a ball and getting bigger and bigger. So it lasts for at least three weeks. And I have no idea what to do. I tried to find any information if there is any point to try. But all sources are saying : breeding not known, not reported , unsuccessful.If the unsuccessful result is predetermined so I would better leave it as is and won't stress the fish. But if there is a chance I want to try. So can you give any tips and share your experience.Thank you

They turn into golf balls if you feed them too much. Its likely yours is just eating a lot, and getting very fat.

Looking at the habitat though, I would guess they lay eggs in a mass of plants. I've got 3 in a tank over run with java moss, so I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed and wait.

I would agree that it is fat, not with eggs. They can eat a lot of food. Cut down the amount you feed and see if the belly reduces in size.

Alyssa wrote: I have bought pair of them a month ago. And now I can see that one of them is looking very very pregnant.The belly is really huge, like a ball and getting bigger and bigger.

Hi Alyssa,

I wondered how you know that you have a pair; have you seen any other gender differences except for the big belly?
Or am I wrong and do you mean you've bought two raphaels?

I too think that this big belly is caused by food. Do they have enough swimming space? My Orinocodoras eigenmanni will also fill themselves to the brim, but they can swim it off.
When yours is just laying down (and breathing heavily), I think you should stop feeding for some time. However, as I don't know if you have any other fish in the tank, that's easy for me to say.
Good luck with them and pls keep us informed.

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Jools

Thanks everyone. Yes, by saying "a pair" I meant that I've bought 2 Raphaels.Of course I acn't say that they are different gender.Thinking it is with eggs I assumed that I brought it like that from the pet's store.
I think they have enough space for swimming.It's 60 gallon aquarium. But they are not really a swimmers I have big decoration with holes and caves (the plastic driftwood imitation emty inside)So they are sitting there most of the time.I can see them only in the evening when the lights are off and I am feeding them.So that is very possible that it is just fat. But my husband is keeping a beleive that it is with eggs. It really getting bigger as now he is hardly fits in the biggest holes

I had my young spotted get like this a few weeks back. (It happened while I was out of town, had a friend feeding tanks, he over fed alot....even had fungus outbreaks in two tanks due to excess food and an algae outbreak in the other)

Anyways, I cut back on pellets for the next few days and it went down slowly now he is back to normal...if suicidal..he gets himself stuck in holes in driftwood.

Hope all goes well