All fish / Doradidae

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras armatulus

Also known as striped raphael, raphael catfish, talking catfish, striped talking catfish, chocolate doradid, thorny catfish, platydoras costatus, humbug catfish, ปลาแคทฟิชราฟาเอล, プラティドラス・アルマトゥルス, ストライプド・ラファエル, ikan raphael

A stocky armoured catfish with a dark brown to black body and a bold creamy white stripe running from the snout along the flank. It is kept for its striking looks, hardiness and long life, and it is famous for the grunting sounds it makes with its pectoral spines and swim bladder.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

16 cm

Temperature

23 to 29 °C

pH

5.8 to 7.5

Smallest tank

200 litres

Keep as

Alone or in a small group of 3 or more

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets, catfish tablets, bloodworm, earthworms, snails and vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 20 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná-Paraguay basins: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina

Breeding

It has not been reliably bred in home aquariums, and trade specimens are wild caught or produced with hormones on farms. Spawning in the wild is thought to happen during the rainy season.

Good to know

Mainly nocturnal and needs caves to hide in; it will eat small fish such as neon tetras. The sharp serrated pectoral spines tangle easily in nets, so move it with a container.