/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/1.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(1) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/2.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(2) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/3.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(3) Head-on view - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/4.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(4) Lateral view - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/5.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(5) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/6.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(6) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/7.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(7) Lateral view - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/8.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(8) Rio Xingu - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/9.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(9) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/10.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(10) Habitat: submersed terrestrial grasses in this small Amazon side channel - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/11.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(11) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/12.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(12) Upper Amazon (Iquitos) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/13.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(13) - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/14.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(14) Orinoco drainage - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/15.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(15) Male - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/16.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(16) Female - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/17.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(17) Fry - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/18.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(18) Fry - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/19.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(19) Fry - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/20.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(20) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/21.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(21) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/22.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(22) Male in spawning colour - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/23.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(23) F1 juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/doradidae/platydoras/armatulus/24.jpg "Platydoras armatulus(24) Drawing - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Platydoras armatulus (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840) |
| Common Name(s) | Humbug Catfish, Striped Raphael Catfish, Striped Talking Catfish |
| Type Locality | Río Paraná, but not below 27°30'S, South America. |
| Synonym(s) | Doras armatulus |
| Pronunciation | pla tee doh russ - are mat you luss |
| Etymology | Platydoras: From the Greek platys, meaning flat, and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the depressed head. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 200mm (7.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | This species has been misidentified as Platydoras costatus for decades, only in late 2008 was it recognised as P. armatulus. Orinocodoras eigenmanni can sometimes be offered for sale labeled as a Striped Raphael Cat or suchlike. This contaminant is most easily distinguished by its longer, more elongate snout and longer adipose fin. The contrasting white stripes on Platydoras armatulus are also considerably brighter, particularly on youngsters. |
| Sexing | Adult females are wider when viewed from above. |
| General Remarks | Talking catfishes get their common name from noises they make, mostly at night, by grinding their pectoral fin bone in its "socket". Click here to listen to this species. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Widespread in South America being found in both Amazon and Orinoco basins. La Plata  , Paraná (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Amazon (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Piauí Rivers, Parnaíba (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Orinoco (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.0 - 7.5 |
| Temperature | 23.0-30.0°C or 73.4-86°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | Slightly softer water is beneficial but not essential. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | All aquarium fish foods, sinking catfish tablets offer the best method of getting food to the fish. Bloodworm and high protein dry food are also favourites. Try delivering food at night. |
| Furniture | Caves or pipes are a requirement if this fish is to avoid long-term stress or the possibility of mistaking a heater for safe refuge. |
| Compatibility | An ideal community fish, peaceful but rugged. |
| Suggested Tankmates | Anything from tetras to cichlids, preferably South American, but will mix with all community fish. |
| Breeding | Fry have been found in the aquarium, however spawning behaviour was not observed and is therefore unknown. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Hist. Nat. Poiss.v. 15 - pp275 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) TP (k: 2), (2) synoguy (k: 4), (3) natefrog, (4) Iwona (k: 4), (5) Kostas, (6) Sktchy, (7) Persephone, (8) Daniel Machado, (9) Chrysichthys, (10) Lornek8, (11) deter00005, (12) ivokilli, (13) call_apple (k: 3), who also notes: "3rd fish picked up at fall fish auction.", (14) Sarajute, (15) gage, (16) oldfish, (17) husky_jim, (18) Occellatus, who also notes: "My striped Raphael did not eat for the first week after it was introduced into my tank. On the 7th day, it started eating like a glutton. Fed it Hikari Carnivore Pellets mainly at night.", (19) mikelouth, (20) Attu, (21) jenny, (22) FishGeek, (23) hatecrew24/7 (k: 4), who also notes: "got 4 of these", (24) cymrucat, who also notes: "He now has a coconut home with anubias on the top and was put on a it of a diet as these fish will eat themselves circular !", (25) Jackp1ne, (26) Armadillo Del Rio, (27) Cooky_luvs, (28) Igowoof, (29) Greer, (30) ranmasan, who also notes: "A little reticent, but definitely a pleasure to keep!", (31) Kagerou, (32) Kattes (k: 3), (33) daniel60 (k: 4), (34) Dawg57, (35) Belial, (36) k1ttyme0w (k: 2), (37) Bas Pels (k: 3), (38) yogi69 (k: 3), (39) ali12345 (k: 3), (40) Benjamin, (41) LindsayB, (42) Plecofanatic1989, (43) nuth88 (k: 2), (44) Barracuda518 (k: 4), (45) orspearo666 (k: 3), who also notes: "very hardy. spawned once but eggs all eaten by other fish", (46) Freakdaddy, (47) NewFishKeeper, (48) mouseninja, (49) AK-Wolfman, (50) wheel1, (51) zenyfish, who also notes: "Very shy.", (52) Elric_Edward, (53) haxjester, (54) joepleco, (55) McDoes (p: 2), (56) SOBERKITTY, (57) gmer4life, who also notes: "its a pig it just wont stop eating.", (58) bitsygiggles, (59) Troender (k: 2), (60) myrheksa (p: 2, k: 9), (61) midnightrider, (62) CubCariboo, who also notes: "Name: "Sally" Very shy but will "Hide" in plain site so I can keep an eye on her(it) and is occasionally active under blue nightlight.
Eats almost anything.", (63) Plunt, (64) griffl, (65) Dinyar, (66) Ill (p: 2), (67) Lyssa, (68) coppernite (k: 5), (69) briggadane, (70) wardcorp, (71) jiapei, (72) miravns, (73) kubastanik, (74) aledk85, (75) AU Chief (p: 2), (76) pressureflip, (77) norfolkgarden, who also notes: "2 inches. neat fish. comes out often and one of the first to feed.", (78) iam1ru12, (79) zedogz, (80) koter73, (81) SoCalDiscus, (82) HeadHunter, (83) big_tank_boy, (84) gwa84, (85) fleahound (k: 2), (86) doesdavid, (87) Sandtiger, who also notes: "Deceased ", (88) Nick44 (k: 2), (89) smegforbrains (p: 2), (90) xander, (91) JimmyT, (92) Static, (93) Gopherboy (k: 2), (94) Sumners83 (p: 2), (95) chralis, (96) xxzeezeexx, (97) Phoxinus (k: 2), (98) ahodge84, (99) Tracey (k: 2), (100) LLLL, (101) Raz, (102) willis30, (103) NorthHawk, (104) darkhighlord, (105) crosfyter (p: 2), (106) fantonac (p: 3), (107) OddOscar, who also notes: "It likes to hide.", (108) walshy317, (109) Cory_lover (k: 2), who also notes: "Bought 2 lovely juveniles, but they're in a 4ft tank with lots of bogwood, and since then, have rarely seen them - extremely nocturnal!", (110) wonderdognc, (111) Wiccatfish (k: 7), (112) Freddy, (113) Hoyo12, (114) Argentum, (115) b.price, (116) Shovelnose, (117) guppyman, (118) jprp (k: 2), (119) Martin S, (120) tcarrier, (121) arcsb, (122) Andie6, (123) ayrtoninst (k: 133), (124) astinus, (125) JamieH, (126) Back (k: 2), (127) pickles4601, (128) Serian, (129) Djthomas, (130) dpk2313, (131) nicki, (132) coelacanth, (133) markhinch, (134) judeblackburn, (135) diane, (136) steve_ansell1, (137) Mike C (p: 2, k: 6), (138) mattholmes320, (139) huskybz91, (140) ichtyophile (k: 2), (141) smitty (k: 2), who also notes: "5/17/2012- Measured 7 inches", (142) miles3, (143) bongthecgb, (144) Riv (k: 2), (145) knifegill, (146) d3n2 (k: 3), (147) electrophyste (k: 3), (148) Kenny Tay, who also notes: "Very cute when well fed and bloated with food. Never seen to stop eating at all even in the day. Grew from 1" to 5" in 7 mths!", (149) salvador60, (150) theviper06 (k: 2), who also notes: "Teeny & Tiny", (151) TheFishGuy (p: 2), (152) TRD, who also notes: "Got this of a friend about a year ago since it kept eating all other bottom dwelling fishes. Including his ancistrus.", (153) chubbikins (k: 2), (154) sawilson2003, (155) tspaceace68, (156) jnakers, (157) tijani, (158) guardianfyre, (159) rhibear, (160) robb harriston (k: 3), (161) djechoskittykat (p: 2), (162) Bernie, who also notes: "He is at least 15+ years old. Five inches long. I wonder how long they live?", (163) NC24 (k: 9), (164) tiffanyjayne, (165) Mezel (p: 2), (166) Brisch, (167) Beth, (168) chimp, (169) hankinswood, (170) MMK1996, (171) Shaun, (172) bund, (173) Quo, (174) tropicalfishlover, (175) snowball, (176) crkinney (k: 2), (177) nerdoutlaw, (178) kp90, (179) maximus (k: 2), who also notes: "Feeding tetra bits , NLS Thera + A and Frozen Bloodworms", (180) linden09, (181) browny85, (182) TheInfamous, who also notes: "Not very active. Hides between stones flat on the substrate. Very peaceful.", (183) cdc069, (184) Seagirt (k: 2), who also notes: "These two get along well as long as each has their own separate place to go to.", (185) tropical (p: 2), (186) wendy333, (187) bigamefish, (188) banuisce, (189) Armoured-Heads, (190) monsterfishkeeper, (191) Margie, (192) francistrus (k: 2), (193) Mcjlance, (194) transporter42, (195) jimlaroche83 (k: 2), (196) raphael.catfish. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
 - CotM  1999 July -
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| Hits | 26879 hits. |
| Last Update | 2009 Mar 30 11:23 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00) |
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