Striped Raphael catfish
Platydoras armatulus
An armoured 'talking' catfish with white stripes that is peaceful to fish its size but eats small fish at night and grows to about 9.5 inches.
Key facts
- Body length
- 9.4 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 34 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm
- Origin
- South America
- Hardier than34%
- Bigger than87%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Striped Raphael catfish tank mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Common plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Convict cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Jewel cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Leopard sailfin plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- SeverumGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Three spot gouramiGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Assassin snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bladder snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Malaysian trumpet snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Mystery snailGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidStriped Raphael catfish outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoStriped Raphael catfish can eat young or small Bristlenose pleco; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Chinese algae eaterChinese algae eater attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Striped Raphael catfish.Risky
- Clown loachClown loach attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Striped Raphael catfish.Risky
- DiscusStriped Raphael catfish outcompetes the slow-eating Discus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Firemouth cichlidStriped Raphael catfish can eat young or small Firemouth cichlid; adults are big enough to be safe.Risky
- Neon tetraStriped Raphael catfish can eat Neon tetra: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Harlequin rasboraStriped Raphael catfish can eat Harlequin rasbora: prey body depth 1.1 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Fancy guppyStriped Raphael catfish can eat Fancy guppy: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Panda corydorasStriped Raphael catfish can eat Panda corydoras: prey body depth 2.4 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- OtocinclusStriped Raphael catfish can eat Otocinclus: prey body depth 0.7 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
- Cherry shrimpStriped Raphael catfish can eat Cherry shrimp: prey body depth 0.8 cm ≤ mouth 6.0 cm.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for striped Raphael catfish: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 24 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 207.36 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 22.59 BU
- Min. water
- 108 L net
- Min. footprint
- 120 × 30 cm per specimen
- Group
- 1+ (best 3)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- fusiform, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Platydoras armatulus
Care notes
Striped Raphael catfish are sold as small juveniles but reach about 9.5 inches. They hide by day and come out at night to forage, and can make grunting sounds with their pectoral spines.
They need a tank at least 4 feet long, around 29 gallons for one fish. They are not aggressive and tolerate their own kind, but neons, guppies and shrimp are likely to vanish at night.
Questions
What size tank does a striped raphael catfish need?
At least 34 gallons (108 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 9.4 inches without fins.
How many striped Raphael catfish should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do striped Raphael catfish need?
75–86 °F, pH 5.8–7.5 and 2–20 dGH. Striped Raphael catfish come from South America.
How long do striped Raphael catfish live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with striped Raphael catfish?
Good tank mates include Angelfish, Blue dolphin cichlid, Common pleco, Convict cichlid and Jewel cichlid. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.