- Name:
Striped Raphael Catfish
(View AKA's) - Family: Doradidae
- Species: Catfish
- Scientific Name: Platyodras armatulus
General info about Striped Raphael Catfish
The average adult in captivity ranges between 6 and 8 inches with a life span of about 10 years. They are peaceful and can be kept in a community aquarium of larger fish, keeping them with smaller fish or fry is not advisable since they may eat them. They are a nocturnal species so plenty of cover and hiding places should be provided and the aquarium should be dimly lit, also, because they are nocturnal, feeding time should be at lights outs which is when they are most active, once they get older, they will become more active during the day and can be fed during the day.
They are brown with vanilla-colored stripes. One of their common names is “Striped Talking Fish” because of their ability to produce sounds when communicating with their own or when they feel threatened. They produce this sound by grinding their pectoral fin bone in its socket and then amplifying it through the swim bladder.
Striped Raphael Catfish Diet & Nutrition
They are omnivorous. In an aquarium they can be fed with sinking pellets and flakes and with live or frozen foods. It is advisable to give them both prepared foods and live/frozen foods.
Determining Sex of Striped Raphael Catfish
When looking from above, females appear wider than males.
Striped Raphael Catfish Origin
This species can be found in the Paraná River basin, South America. It prefers lentic waters.
Caution with Striped Raphael Catfish
If there isn’t enough cover and hiding spaces in the aquarium it may hide behind an exposed heater and get burnt.
The spines on the body and fins can become entangled in aquarium nets so it is better to handle them with something else like a plastic container. These spines can also cause a painful wound.
Original Detail
| Name | Species | Family | Scientific Name | More Detail | Added by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Striped Raphael Catfish | Catfish | Doradidae | Platyodras armatulus | The average adult in captivity ranges between 6 and 8 inches with a life span of about 10 years. They are peaceful and can be kept in a community aquarium of larger fish, keeping them with smaller fish or fry is not advisable since they may eat them. They are a nocturnal species so plenty of cover and hiding places should be provided and the aquarium should be dimly lit, also, because they are nocturnal, feeding time should be at lights outs which is when they are most active, once they get older, they will become more active during the day and can be fed during the day. They are brown with vanilla-colored stripes. One of their common names is “Striped Talking Fish” because of their ability to produce sounds when communicating with their own or when they feel threatened. They produce this sound by grinding their pectoral fin bone in its socket and then amplifying it through the swim bladder. |
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