Raphael catfish

Scientific name Platydoras costatus
Descriptor Linnaeus
Year of description 1758
IUCN category LC
Family Doradidae
Genus Platydoras
Platydoras costatus Platydoras costatus

Introduction

Platydoras costatus, commonly known as Raphael catfish, is a fresh water fish from the Amérique du Sud.

Who is it?

Morphology

  • Average size
    20 cm
  • Maximum size
    25 cm
  • Mimicry
    sand
  • Pattern
    horizontal stripes
  • Average size
    20 cm
  • Maximum size
    25 cm
  • Mimicry
    sand
  • Pattern
    horizontal stripes

How to recognize the Raphael catfish ?

This fish has the particularity to possess several pairs of barbels, which allow him to search the bottom and to detect the food thus moved.

The Raphael catfish measures between 20 and 25 cm. This fish is bicolore with a predominantly orange and argent body. The also has marron horizontal stripes.

Behaviour & Life cycle

  • diet
    omnivorous with carnivorous tendency
  • Sociability
    gregarious
  • territorial
    No
  • Way of living
    nocturnal

This species is known to emit sounds easily audible by humans.

The Raphael catfish is a fish gregarious. This species is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency . This fish lives mainly at night. Usually, it leaves its hiding place and starts to be active once it gets dark.

n general, this species does not care much about other animals crossing its path.

Reproduction

  • Reproduction
    dont le mode de reproduction est encore inconnu

The Raphael catfish is a fish dont le mode de reproduction est encore inconnu.

Harmless species

This species does not represent any particular threats to humans when encountered in its natural environment.

Where to find it?

Where to see this species?

What is its habitat?

Natural environment characteristics

  • Temperature
    24 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    5.8 - 7.5
  • gh (hardness)
    2 - 20
  • Flow
    Strong

Biotope presentation

The Raphael catfish is most often found at a depth between 0m and 9m. However, it is not impossible to find this species at other depths.

The Raphael catfish prefers well oxygenated waters in current areas and rapids. It frequents fast flowing waters where the bottom is strewn with pebbles, wood or leaves carried by the current. It can be found not far from waterfalls .

Species of the same biotope

Main recommendations for fishkeeping

Deontology

In order to preserve wildlife, if you acquire this animal, it must not be released into the wild. See also, the Fishipedia charter.

Fishipedia supports the practice of responsible and environmentally friendly aquarium keeping. We encourage maintenance if it is motivated by a desire to understand the biological functioning of living things and if it is done with respect for animal life.

We believe that aquaristics is an opening to the discovery of aquatic environments, especially freshwater, and that this knowledge is necessary to better protect and respect these environments. Logically, we refute the compulsive purchase of animals that would not find a sufficient and / or adapted place in the host aquarium.

Our recommendations

  • Min volume
    800 liters
  • Population min
    4
  • Temperature
    24 - 30 °C
  • pH (acidity)
    5.8 - 7.5

Characteristics

  • Difficulty breeding
    moderate
  • Robustness
    tolerant
  • Behaviour
    peaceful
  • Availability
    occasional

General reminders

It is strongly advised to read the complete dedicated file and to get information on the feedbacks of maintenance of the envisaged animal, this to avoid any potential conflict whose end result is generally the death of the individual (or the other inhabitants). It is important not to overload your aquarium to limit pollution. This will make maintenance easier.

In nature, animals are subject to weather conditions and live in waters with variable characteristics. The recommendations offered by our team for aquarium maintenance are a guidance and cannot be assimilated to scientific datas.

General reminder on maintenance datas

Le démarrage d'un aquarium est une partie primordiale pour l'équilibre et le bien-être des poissons. Lorsque l'on met en eau un aquarium, l'eau passe naturellement par un cycle biologique : le cycle de l'azote. Celui-ci dure environ trois semaines. Tous les 2 jours, nous vous conseillons de tester votre eau jusqu'à ce que le taux de nitrite soit à zéro pendant plusieurs jours d'affilée.

Pour accélérer ce cycle, vous pouvez utiliser un activateur de bactéries comme JBL Denitrol. Cette solution riche en bactéries vivantes et enzymes permet une mise en place rapide du cycle de l'azote. Les poissons peuvent alors être introduits plus rapidement.

Il est important de tester l'eau de son aquarium régulièrement pour maintenir un environnement sain pour les poissons et les autres habitants. Les tests d'eau permettent de mesurer les niveaux de différents paramètres tels que le pH, la dureté totale, ainsi que les taux de nitrates, de nitrites et d'ammoniaque.

Pour réaliser ces tests, vous pouvez utiliser des produits d'analyse spécialisés tels que JBL ProScan qui permet de réaliser un diagnostic de l'eau directement via un smartphone. Il existe également des coffrets de tests plus classiques de bandelettes, comme JBL PROAQUATEST.

En cas d’usage de l’eau du robinet, vous pouvez utiliser un conditionneur d’eau de type Biotopol de JBL pour éliminer les substances nocives comme le chlore, le cuivre, le plomb et le zinc. Les conditionneurs d'eau garantissent une meilleure santé aux poissons et une meilleure croissance des plantes.

Chlorine and chloramine are dangerous for the health of animals. Used to disinfect water, these agents are present in significant quantities in tap water. We recommend using an anti-chlorine agent every time you change the water. In addition to chlorine, treatments and medicines sold for aquarium use sometimes contain dangerous heavy metals in high doses.

Specific needs for the Raphael catfish

The Raphael catfish is a species which lives naturally at a temperature between 24 °C and 30 °C. For proper maintenance, the temperature should never exceed the 33°C for long periods. Nitrate levels should remain below 50mg/L. To keep the water clean and unpolluted, plan on changing 20% to 30% of the water volume each month.

The breeding of this species is accessible on condition of being well informed about its needs in aquarium . Any cohabitants must be chosen with care to avoid the loss of animals.

This species is generally available in specialized shops or from aquarium clubs. Specimens that have been bred for a long time are easier to breed, but special water parameters must be respected.

Barbel fish

Formal incompatibilities

Be careful, the Raphael catfish is incompatible with molluscs and crustacean.

Cohabitation & Environment

Being a gregarious fish, it is advisable to install at least 4 individuals in an aquarium of 800 liters minimum. Group maintenance is a prerequisite to ensure their well-being. Lonely individuals tend to quickly become stressed and become especially susceptible to disease. Although sometimes certain groups can "merge", mixing several gregarious species living in the same zone of life is not recommended if the volume is not consequent.

The Raphael catfish is a peaceful species that generally does not exhibit behavioral problems in a community aquarium.

As previously said, The Raphael catfish is a species that lives naturally in the current. Thus, we advise the installation of an oversized filtration system (10 to 20 times the volume of the tank) in order to guarantee a strong current and especially a strong oxygenation. A venturi system will improve the dissolved oxygen rate during summer.

To best reproduce the biotope of this species, you can cover the bottom of the tank with sand and put a pile of stones to form caves.

Tips for feeding

The Raphael catfish is omnivorous with carnivorous tendency.

This species can eat dry food (flakes, pellets), fresh food and frozen food. To avoid deficiencies, it is recommended to vary the types of food.

You should not overfeed your residents to avoid polluting the water. For most species, it is better to feed a few small portions each day rather than one large meal.

Food recommendations from our partner JBL - Products PRONOVO

Reproduction protocol

  • egg-laying protection
    No

Hybridization risks

In general, it is advised not to mix several species of the same genus or different varieties of the same species, to avoid the risks of hybridization.

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To go further

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To read on the web

Sources & Contributions

Participation & Validation

The Fishipedia team and specialist contributors are committed to providing high-quality content. However, although the information comes from scientific sources or testimonials from specialists, the cards may contain inaccuracies.

Benoit Chartrer

Benoit Chartrer

Translation

Translation done with the valuable contribution of our translators, who make this information available to a wider audience. We sincerely thank them for their commitment.

Bibliographic references

Platydoras brachylecis, a new species of thorny catfish (Siluriformes: Doradidae) from northeastern Brazil - Nivaldo M. PiorskiI - Julio C. GaravelloII - Mariangeles Arce H. - Mark H. Sabaj Pérez - Scielo - 2008.

Record of cleaning behavior by Platydoras costatus (Siluriformes: Doradidae) in the Amazon Basin, Brazil - Lucélia Nobre CarvalhoI - Rafael ArrudaII - Jansen Zuanon - Scielo - 2003.

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Template and content © Fishipedia - Unauthorized reproduction without prior request - ISSN 2270-7247 - Last modification 12/11/2023

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