


Species Profile
Striped Raphael Catfish
Platydoras armatulus
Catfishpeaceful
Adult size
8″
Minimum tank
55 gal
Temperature
75–86°F
pH
6–8
Schooling
Solitary OK
Water level
bottom
Grows from juvenile
Typically sold at ~2.5″ and reaches 8″ over ~2 years. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.Diet
Sinking pellets, frozen, live
Notes
Dark body with crisp cream lateral stripes. Spiny pectoral fins lock open and can puncture hands during transfer or a predator's mouth, handle gently with a deep net (no bare hands). Nocturnal, hides during the day.
Compatible Tankmates
Best tank mates for Striped Raphael Catfish
Every species below passes the compatibility engine when paired with Striped Raphael Catfishin a suitably sized tank. Verdicts come from the same rules the builder uses — click a card to see that species' own care profile and its tank mates in turn.

Cardinal Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Rummynose Tetra
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Harlequin Rasbora
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Fancy Guppy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Platy
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Molly
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Swordtail
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Male Betta
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Dwarf Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Honey Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

Pearl Gourami
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.

German Blue Ram
ExcellentPeaceful pairing — temperament, water parameters, and size all line up.
Photo: Piotr Kuczynski / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0