Why is my Striped Raphael Catfish hiding all the time?

This is completely natural behaviour. They are strictly nocturnal fish that prefer to stay wedged tightly into dark crevices during the day. They will become much more active and forage around the tank once the aquarium lights are turned off.

Can I keep a Striped Raphael Catfish with small tetras?

It is not recommended. While generally peaceful, they are opportunistic feeders with surprisingly large mouths. Small, torpedo-shaped fish like Neon Tetras that sleep near the bottom are at high risk of being eaten during the night.

How do I safely catch a Striped Raphael Catfish?

Never use a standard mesh net to catch them. Their heavily serrated pectoral spines and the thorny scutes along their sides will inevitably become hopelessly tangled in the mesh, leading to stress and injury for the fish. Instead, use a solid plastic container, a large jug, or a specifically designed rigid catching box.

Why is my catfish making a croaking noise?

Striped Raphael Catfish are known as 'talking catfish' because they can produce sound. They do this by stridulation (rubbing their pectoral spines in their sockets) and by contracting a muscle attached to their swim bladder. This is usually done to communicate, establish territory, or express alarm when stressed.

Does the Striped Raphael Catfish need to be kept in a group?

While they do perfectly well as solitary individuals in an aquarium, they are actually gregarious in the wild. If you have a large enough tank, keeping a small group can be very rewarding, and you will often find them all crammed into the same cave together.

FreshwaterTropicalBeginner

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras armatulus

A heavily armoured, nocturnal South American catfish famous for its striking lateral stripes and ability to produce croaking sounds.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 23 – 30 °C
pH range: 5.8 – 7.5
Hardness: 2 – 20 dGH
Adult size: 15 – 24 cm
for an adult individual or small group: 200 litres+
Lifespan: 15 – 20 years
Diet: Omnivorous
Water flow: low to moderate
Preferred setup: Sand substrate is essential to protect soft underbellies. Abundant hiding places such as driftwood tangles, PVC pipes, and rock caves must be provided.

About the Striped Raphael Catfish

The Striped Raphael Catfish (Platydoras armatulus), historically traded under the misnomer Platydoras costatus, is an unmistakable and fascinating bottom-dweller. Belonging to the family Doradidae, it features prominent bony plates (scutes) along its flanks, culminating in sharp, backward-pointing thorns. These distinctive adaptations provide excellent defence against predators in the wild. They are famously known as 'talking catfish' because they can produce audible clicks and croaks by rubbing their pectoral fins in their sockets and using an elastic spring mechanism attached to their swim bladder.

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Is it right for your tank?

Check Striped Raphael Catfish against a habitat you already keep. We compare water type, temperature, pH, adult size, group needs and everything living there.

Where Striped Raphael Catfish comes from

Native range

Amazon Basin, Orinoco River Basin, Paraguay-Paraná River Basin

Countries / regions

Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela

Habitat

Sluggish rivers, swamps, and flooded forests, typically found sheltering amongst submerged roots and dense aquatic vegetation.

Historically confused with Platydoras costatus, which is restricted to the Guianas; P. armatulus is the widely distributed species seen in the trade.

Similar species

Spotted Raphael Catfish
Agamyxis pectinifrons
Granulated Catfish
Pterodoras granulosus
Iridescent Shark
Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Severum
Heros severus
Large, generally peaceful South American cichlids occupy higher levels of the water column and are too large to be eaten.
Great
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Fast-swimming, medium-to-large tetras that are much too bulky for the Raphael Catfish to swallow at night.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Shares similar habitat requirements and bottom-dwelling lifestyle, but heavily armoured enough to avoid any issues.
Great
Corydoras
Corydoras sp.
While generally peaceful together, a very large Raphael catfish may outcompete Corydoras for food, and there is a minor risk to the smallest Corydoras species.
Compatible with caution
Neon Tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Small, slender fish that sleep near the bottom and will easily become a midnight snack for a foraging adult Raphael Catfish.
Not recommended
Cherry Shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Will be treated as a natural food source and quickly consumed by this omnivorous scavenger.
Not recommended

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