Striped Raphael Catfish

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras armatulus

Also known as: Talking Catfish, Chocolate Doradid

💧 Freshwater ✌️ Peaceful 🟢 Easy 🍽️ Omnivore

Hardy, armored catfish with bold black and white stripes. Makes audible croaking sounds when handled or stressed.

Tank Size

30 gal
minimum (55+ preferred)

Temperature

72–82°F
22–28°C

pH Range

6–7.5
water acidity

Max Size

7"
17.8 cm

Lifespan

15–20 years
typical in captivity

Swim Level

Bottom
preferred zone

Care Notes

Very hardy and long-lived. Nocturnal — will hide all day. Has bony armor and serrated pectoral spines.

Feeding

Sinking pellets, frozen foods, and any food that sinks. Feed at night.

Compatible Tank Mates

Congo Tetra 3.5" Diamond Tetra 2.5" Scissortail Rasbora 3.5" Penguin Tetra 2.5" Red Eye Tetra 2.5" Silver Hatchetfish 2.5" Pearl Danio 2.5" Bleeding Heart Tetra 2.5" Spotted Headstander 3.5" German Blue Ram 2.5" Bolivian Ram 3" Geophagus Tapajos Red Head 7"

Use Caution With

Neon Tetra 1.5" Cardinal Tetra 2" Rummy Nose Tetra 2" Black Skirt Tetra 2.5" Serpae Tetra 1.75" Glowlight Tetra 1.5" Harlequin Rasbora 2" Zebra Danio 2" Bloodfin Tetra 2" Lemon Tetra 1.5" Black Neon Tetra 1.5" Buenos Aires Tetra 3"

Incompatible With

Ember Tetra 0.8" Chili Rasbora 0.7" Celestial Pearl Danio 1" White Cloud Mountain Minnow 1.5" Green Neon Tetra 1" Phoenix Rasbora 0.8" Exclamation Point Rasbora 0.7" Dwarf Pencilfish 1.2" Coral Red Pencilfish 1.2" Kubotai Rasbora 0.8" Ruby Tetra 0.7" Loreto Tetra 1.2"

Check Compatibility

Want to check if Striped Raphael Catfish is compatible with a specific fish? Use our compatibility checker to build your complete tank.