Description
Striped Talking Catfish – Striking Patterns with a Voice of Their Own
Add personality and intrigue to your freshwater aquarium with the Striped Talking Catfish (Platydoras armatulus), also known as the Striped Raphael Catfish. Famous for the gentle croaking or “talking” sounds they produce when communicating or handled, these nocturnal bottom-dwellers are as fascinating as they are beautiful.
With their bold black body and contrasting white or cream-colored stripes, Striped Talking Catfish are visually striking and highly resilient. They are peaceful, hardy fish that prefer hiding during the day and exploring at night, making them a perfect addition to a calm, well-decorated tank.
Key Features:
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Unique Sound Production: Known for the soft croaking or "talking" sounds they make
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Bold Striped Pattern: Black body with striking light-colored horizontal stripes
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Peaceful & Hardy: Excellent community fish with a long lifespan and easy care needs
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Nocturnal Behavior: Active at night; enjoy exploring driftwood and hiding places
Care Guidelines:
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Tank Size: Minimum 40 gallons
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Water Temp: 72–79°F (22–26°C)
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pH Range: 6.5–7.5
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Diet: Omnivorous – sinking pellets, meaty foods, and occasional vegetables
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Lifespan: 10+ years with proper care
Tip: Provide plenty of hiding spots using driftwood, rocks, and caves to mimic their natural habitat and make them feel secure.
Bring sound, style, and personality to your aquarium with the Striped Talking Catfish — a hardy and fascinating bottom dweller that truly speaks for itself.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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