Striped Talking Catfish (Platydoras armatulus) is a popular tank fish of the family Doradidae. The fish have armour, they are enduring and can produce various sounds – all these features attract many aquarists.
Striped Talking Catfish dwells in slow and lantic waters, including tributaries, streams and bogs. Usually, the fish finds its shelter among drowned roots or submergent vegetation.
The catfish feeds on mussels, crustaceans and detritus. Usually they are encountered in areas with soft sand in which they bury themselves if they feel danger.
Rain season makes the fish migrate to flooded forests where there is a lot of food. Though the fish is a territory dependent one, in the wild they form schools to feel more safe.
In the wild the fish grows to be up to 20 cm long and sometimes even bigger species can be encountered. In a tank the average length of the adult fish is 15 cm. It’s lifespan is about 15 years, some records state that it can be even 20.
The fish has cylindrical arrow shaped body with flattened abdomen and a large head. The eyes are large and laterally-spaced. Its bony outgrowths form sharp curved spines along its lateral line.
The fish dorsal and pectoral fins are notched.
The front ray of the pectoral fin is covered with small spines and it has a sharp hook at its end. Be careful when catching these catfish, since the spines on their body and fins may easily get stuck in a dip net. Its sharp pectoral spines can be quite painful if you prick yourself with them.
It is better to catch this catfish with a jar or other container, since again the fish can get stuck in the net due to its sharp fin rays.
Young fish species as a rule are coloured brighter, than the older ones. The body coloring varies from dark brown to black with clear and solid light colored lateral stripe (its colour varies from white to yellow).
A pair of these stripes join together into one line on the fish back in interorbital area. Bottom of the fish head and front edges of the pectoral fins are also white.
Striped Talking Catfish can produce various sounds. It makes these sounds to attract species of its kind or to scare off predators.
It makes these sounds in two various ways. The first one includes partial blocking of pectoral fins in their cavities and rubbing with its spines and this way making a buzz sound.
The second one is made by quickly constricting and relaxing the muscle on side of which is located on the back of the fish scull and the other one is on the front side of its air bladder.
Although it is quite a peaceful fish, the size of the adult fish and tendency to eat its smaller tankmates means that
It is a good community catfish although very nocturnal. It could eat very small fish or fry on night time forages. It is best to keep the catfish in tanks with large sized dwellers.
When feeding,  it is best to drop tablet food at dusk, in the area where it resides. It will eat a wide variety of foods including flake, and frozen foods such as bloodworm.
 
Species – Platydoras armatulus
Common Name – Striped Talking Catfish
Origin – Eastern part of South America that includes Orinoco river basin in Columbia and Venezuela, Essequibo River in Guyana, part of Amazon river basin in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil, Tocantins River and Parnaíba River basins.
Diet – carnivorous
PH Range – 6 – 7.5
Temperature – Tropical 20°c – 26°c
Breed Type – Egg Layer
Current Size – approximately 5cm (Grows to approximately 15cm)
Sex – Un-sexed