Platydoras armatulus

Alternative names

 * ,, Striped Raphael Catfish, , ,

Sexing

 * Adult females will be broader in body when viewed from above.

Tank compatibility

 * The Striped Raphael Catfish are generally peaceful fish although should not be kept with very small fish or fry.

Diet

 * They will accept a wide range of foods including sinking pellets and flake as well as live/frozen foods.

Feeding regime

 * It is good to feed them after the lights are gone off since they are nocturnal.

Environment Specifics

 * Must be provided with hiding places such as caves or pipes and dim lighting. Be careful with exposed heaters as this fish can try and hide behind them and get burnt. Some floating plants are good because they provide fish with shady area. Sand or gravel substrate are good choices. Consider adding a couple pieces of bogwood to create hiding places for fish.

Behaviour

 * They are peaceful catfish and they will often make croaking sound.

Identification

 * These fish's colour is brown with vanilla-coloured stripes. Often confused with Platydoras costatus. They have bony plates covering their body with rear-facing hooks. This feature makes fish hard to handle and can easily become tangled in fish nets. Also looks similar in appearance to Orinocodorus eigenmanni which has more longer snout.