Striped Raphael Catfish
Platydoras armatulus
Doradidae
FishDifficulty: ●●●○○Data: verified
About
The striped raphael is a thorny doradid catfish from the Amazon, Orinoco and Parana basins, bought as a bold 5 cm juvenile and rarely recognised as the 20 cm-plus armoured bruiser it becomes. It spends the day wedged under wood or half-buried in sand and forages only after dark, so most owners see it a handful of times a year. It is peaceful with anything it cannot swallow, grunts audibly when lifted out of the water, and carries locking pectoral spines that shred nets and hands.
Care
A nocturnal fish for a 200 L tank or larger with a soft sand bed, deep shade and caves it can wedge itself into. Feed sinking food after lights-out. Peaceful, but anything under roughly 8 cm, including shrimp and small snails, counts as food. Move it in a jug or container, never a net: the pectoral spines lock outwards and tangle instantly.
Diet
Sinking pellets after dark as the staple, plus frozen bloodworm, earthworm, mussel and prawn. One large meal every couple of days suits an adult.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (32)
AngelfishBanjo CatfishBlood Parrot CichlidBrichard's TeleogrammaBristlenose PlecoChinese Algae EaterChocolate CichlidClown PlecoCongo TetraDwarf GouramiElephantnose FishFeatherfin SqueakerGolden Wonder KillifishKeyhole CichlidKribensisKuhli LoachMoonlight GouramiPearl GouramiPictus CatfishPolka Dot LoachRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkScissortail RasboraSiamese Algae EaterStriped KribensisSveni EartheaterThick-lipped GouramiThree-spot GouramiUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpYoyo Loach
Possible with care (42)
African ButterflyfishAltum AngelfishBlue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBoesemani RainbowfishBuffalohead CichlidButterfly Hillstream LoachCheckerboard CichlidConvict CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDojo (Weather) LoachEllioti CichlidEmerald CoryFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Firemouth CichlidGreen DiscusGreen TerrorHeckel DiscusJack DempseyJewel CichlidKissing GouramiParaguay EartheaterPort CichlidRainbow CichlidRed DevilRed RainbowfishRedhead CichlidRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoSailfin MollySalvini CichlidSeverumSpotted HoploSunshine PeacockSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTexas CichlidThreadfin AcaraTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)
Avoid (197)
Acei CichlidAdonis PlecoAfrican Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAmano ShrimpAssassin SnailAuratus CichlidBala SharkBamboo ShrimpBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Black Moor GoldfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBloodfin TetraBlue Tiger ShrimpBlue Velvet ShrimpBolivian RamBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Bronze CorydorasBuenos Aires TetraBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyCalvus CichlidCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCelestial Pearl DanioCheckered BarbCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChili RasboraChocolate GouramiClown KillifishClown LoachCobalt Blue ZebraCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidColombian Ramshorn SnailComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCongo Dwarf CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidCyprichromisDemasoni CichlidDemon EartheaterDiamond TetraDogtooth CichlidDuboisi TropheusDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Pea PufferDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabElongate MbunaEmber TetraEmperor TetraEndler's LivebearerEndlicheri BichirEven-spotted SynodontisFantail GoldfishFigure-8 PufferFive-bar CichlidFlame TetraForktail RainbowfishFreshwater ClamFrontosaGerman Blue RamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight DanioGlowlight TetraGoby CichlidGold BarbGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden JulieGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGreen Neon TetraGreen Spotted PufferfishGuppyHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiHongi CichlidIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidJapanese Trapdoor SnailJohanni CichlidJulii CoryKenyi CichlidKoiLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLemon TetraLeopard DanioLittle CorydorasLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalawi HawkMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMasked JulieMedaka RicefishMollyMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarOtocinclusPanda CorydorasParadise FishPeaceful BettaPeacock BassPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPenguin TetraPeppered CorydorasPike CichlidPlatyPowder Blue CichlidPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRabbit SnailRamshorn SnailRanchu GoldfishRed EmpressRed TerrorRed Zebra CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Flying FoxReticulated Hillstream LoachRostratusRosy Red MinnowRosy TetraRoyal PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoSalt and Pepper CorySand-sifting XenotilapiaSaulosi CichlidScarlet BadisSerpae TetraShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonySilver Tip TetraSimilis Shell DwellerSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpTaiwan Reef CichlidTelescope GoldfishThai Micro CrabThreadfin PetrochromisThreadfin RainbowfishTiger BarbTropheusUmbrella Dwarf CichlidVenezuelan CoryVenustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowWolf CichlidWrestling HalfbeakX-ray TetraZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Adult sizeA hint only · only across animals of the same age
In many cichlids, catfish and loaches one sex simply grows larger — usually the male, though there are well-known reversals.
Also in these lists
Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Striped Raphael Catfish need?
- A Striped Raphael Catfish needs an aquarium of at least 200 litres (52.8 US gallons) with a footprint at least 120 cm (47.2 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Striped Raphael Catfish need?
- Striped Raphael Catfish does best at 23–30 °C (73.4–86 °F), pH 5.8–7.5 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- Is the Striped Raphael Catfish suitable for beginners?
- Striped Raphael Catfish sits in the middle of the difficulty scale — manageable for a careful beginner who has done the reading, but it has specific needs worth researching first.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature23–30°C
Optimal temp.24–28°C
pH5.8–7.5
Hardness (GH)2–20°d
Carbonate (KH)1–12°d
Adult size24 cm
Min. volume≥ 200 L
Min. tank length≥ 120 cm
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~15 yrs
Try in the calculator