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Appearance
This oddly shaped catfish belongs to the Doradidae family. Their head and body are quite large and round, and then taper off quickly to form the rather slender tail.
Much like the clown loach, this catfish (Platydoras armatulus) has the ability to make clicking or croaking sounds by wiggling the bones in its pectoral fins against the joint socket!
Young striped Raphael catfish are black with three white stripes. There is one stripe located on both sides of the body, and the third stripe runs down the spine.
As the fish ages, the white stripes turn yellow and the black color has been known to fade into a dark brown.
Sharp, protruding spines are attached to the pectoral and dorsal fins. These spines can stab and sting you, and get caught in nets, so be wary when handling them.
Big eyes and a big mouth helps this nocturnal fish find food in the dark with ease.
Behavior and Tankmates
They are considered peaceful to their own species and to others, but they have also been known to harass and pester other fish on occasion.
Raphaels are territorial and are still known to school with each other and other catfish. It is not absolutely necessary to house them with members of their own kind, but it would be beneficial to the fish itself.
It is not advisable to house this catfish with any small fish, as they would quickly fall prey to a hungry catfish.
Medium to large South American fishes like cichlids are suitable tankmates. Plecostomus may also work well in a Raphael tank, as they’re big and tend to stay out of the way.
Tank Setup
First and foremost, these catfish must be kept on sand. They are a burrowing species and like to dig caves under rocks and driftwood.
They are also quite fond of wedging themselves into tight spaces and hiding there, rarely ever being seen.
Your standard rock and wood caves will be very much appreciated by this fish, but PVC pipe makes a cheap and effective cave as well!
Striped Raphels are rowdy and can destroy sensitive plants while digging in the sand. Aim for robust rooting plants or plants that can be securely fixed onto rock and driftwood.
Being nocturnal, it is best to keep them in low-light environments either with a weak light or floating vegetation.
When keeping multiple Raphaels or multiple species it is important to provide several different hiding places so the fish can establish their own territories and hide from one another if need be.
They prefer a slightly acidic to neutral pH and tropical temperatures of 75-80℉ (24-27°C).
And while most aquarists encourage that this fish will do great in a tank as small as 30 gallons (114 l), 125 gallons (470 l) is a more appropriate minimum.
These fish grow to be over 8 inches (20 cm), and although they are not as active as other catfish, they produce quite a large bioload that requires a larger tank.
Feeding
Like most catfish, striped Raphael catfish will eat just about anything, they are omnivores.
They have a notable fondness for pest snails and shrimp, but will just as eagerly chow down on commercial bottom feeder pellets, live and frozen foods, and vegetable-based foods.
It is best to feed this species at night, just before the tank lights are turned off.
Breeding
It is very difficult to get this species to breed in captivity so little information is available.
Some have reported accidental breeding and coming across random fry in the tank, so breeding them is possible, just rare. Females are noticeably rounder than males.
