Striped Raphael Catfish
Platydoras armatulus
Also known as: Raphael catfish, Talking catfish, Thorny catfish
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 15-20 cm (6-8 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 200 litres (53 gallons)
- Lifespan: 10–15 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Diet: omnivore
- Minimum group size: 1
- Difficulty: intermediate
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 23–28°C
- pH: 6–7.5
- Hardness (GH): 36–268 ppm (2–15 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
A sturdy, plated, nocturnal catfish boldly striped in black and white (fading toward brown with age), and one of the longest-lived fish in the hobby, routinely passing fifteen years and sometimes twenty. It hides by day, wedged into the nearest cave or under driftwood, and emerges after dark to forage, peaceful toward anything too large to eat but treating small fish and shrimp as a midnight meal. The name 'talking catfish' comes from the audible grunts it makes when lifted from the water, produced with its swim bladder and pectoral spines, and those same lockable spines snag nets and can injure a careless hand, so it should always be moved in a container. Hardy, undemanding, and characterful, it is an excellent long-term resident for a larger community.
Tankmates
A peaceful, armoured, nocturnal catfish that spends the day wedged into a cave or under wood and forages at night, when it will hunt and eat fish and shrimp small enough to swallow, so tankmates must be of reasonable size. It is entirely peaceable toward larger fish and suits a community of medium-to-large peaceful species. Two practical cautions: it has sharp, lockable pectoral and dorsal spines that tangle hopelessly in a net and can give a painful jab, so move it in a rigid container, and it grunts or 'talks' audibly when handled, which is normal. Provide caves and a soft substrate.
Compatible with
- Silver Dollar
- Pearl Gourami
- Bristlenose Pleco
- Congo Tetra
- Denison Barb
- Boeseman's Rainbowfish
- Angelfish
Avoid keeping with
Common Problems
- spines that lock into nets and can injure (move it in a container)
- predation on small fish and shrimp at night
- rarely seen due to nocturnal, cave-bound habits
- outgrowing small tanks
Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20