| Scientific Name | Platydoras costatus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Common Name(s) | Striped Dora Liniendornwels (Germany) |
| Type Locality | Indiis [South America]. |
| Synonym(s) | Silurus costatus |
| Pronunciation | pla tee doh russ - kos TAT uss |
| 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. |
| Size | 160mm or 6.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | This species was long misidentified as the widely distributed species commonly available in the hobby, however now appears to be restricted to two rivers in eastern South America. The common species in the hobby is Platydoras armatulus. |
| Sexing | Unknown |
| General Remarks | Talking catfishes get their common name from noises they make, mostly at night, by griding their pectoral fin bone in its "socket". Click here to listen to this species. |
| Distribution | South America: Amazon, Tocantins, Parnaíba, Orinoco, Essequibo River basins and coastal drainages in French Guiana and Suriname to Argentina. Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to 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. |
| 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 | Unknown. |
| References | Systema Nat. ed. 10v. 1 - pp306 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) shoegazer (k: 2), (2) MADRacing (k: 3), (3) miguel mitchel, (4) Sjassie, (5) Gulper. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| Search Planet Catfish for more on Platydoras costatus | |
| Look up Platydoras costatus on AquaticRepublic.com | |
| BBCode | (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) |
| (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web) | |
| Look up Platydoras costatus on Fishbase | |
| Get or print a QR code for this species profile, or try our BETA label creator. | |
| Hits | 55179 hits. |
| Last Update | 2014 Apr 09 13:27 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00) |