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Striped raphael catfish

Platydoras armatulus

Also known as Humbug Catfish

FreshwaterFish

Striped raphael catfish (Platydoras armatulus)
Piotr Kuczynski · CC BY-SA 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature
75–86°F
24–30°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
29 gal
110 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Doradidae
Origin
South America

Overview

The striped raphael catfish is a peaceful bottom dweller for a community tank. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.

Did you know

The striped raphael catfish can make an audible croaking or grunting sound by grinding its pectoral spines and vibrating its swim bladder. You will often hear it if you ever have to net the fish.

Caring for the striped raphael catfish

Give the striped raphael catfish a tank of at least 29 gal (110 L) with secure hiding spots. It spends the day tucked away and comes out after dark. Use a sand or fine gravel bottom with plenty of caves and driftwood, and keep the lighting dim or shaded.

Keep the water soft to neutral and warm, at 75 to 86°F (24 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is an omnivorous scavenger, so feed sinking pellets, frozen foods and the odd vegetable at night.

It is fine alone or in a group, and it will not bother tank mates. Anything small enough to fit in its mouth may get eaten, though. Its side plates and stiff pectoral spines are sharp and lock outward, so it can tangle badly in a net. Go slow when you net it. There are no consistent records of it spawning in aquariums.

Good to know

The striped raphael catfish is a thorny catfish of the family Doradidae, a group named for the row of hooked bony plates along each side. It is a long-lived fish, often kept for well over a decade.

In the wild

The striped raphael catfish is a South American species from slow rivers and flooded forest areas with soft bottoms and lots of submerged wood. In the wild it hides among roots and leaf litter by day and forages at night.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The striped raphael catfish is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a striped raphael catfish need?

A striped raphael catfish needs at least 29 gal (110 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a striped raphael catfish need?

A striped raphael catfish is comfortable at 75–86°F (24–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a striped raphael catfish eat?

A striped raphael catfish is an omnivorous scavenger. Feed it sinking pellets, frozen foods and the odd vegetable at night.

How big does a striped raphael catfish get?

An adult striped raphael catfish reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

Related species