Striped Raphael Catfish Tank Mates

Striped Raphael Catfish is semi-aggressive, so its tank mates need choosing with care. Here are the 17 freshwater species that pair well with a striped raphael catfish — plus the 52 to avoid — with a live checker you can tune to your own tank.

The best tank mates for a striped raphael catfish

  • Porthole Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Upside-down Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Bristlenose Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Marbled Hoplo ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 14 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Spotted Talking Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Weather Loach ✅ Compatible
    Easy care · Peaceful · 25 cm · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Clown Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Leopard Frog Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 9 cm · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Bearded Corydoras ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Medusa Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Spotted Rubbernose Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
  • Striped Eel Loach ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 12 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Banjo Catfish ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 15 cm · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
  • Snowball Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Medium care · Peaceful · 16 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
  • Zebra Pleco ✅ Compatible
    Hard care · Peaceful · 10 cm · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.

Striped Raphael Catfish tank mates that can work with care

  • Adolf's Cory ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 5.5 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish may bully the smaller Adolf's Cory, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Afra Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 10 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    pH preferences only just meet (Striped Raphael Catfish 6.5–7.6 vs Afra Cichlid 7.8–8.6) — target the overlap and acclimate slowly.
  • African Butterfly Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 8 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish and African Butterfly Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • African Dwarf Frog ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Peaceful · 4 cm · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish may hunt African Dwarf Frog, fry or shrimplets — safest in a heavily planted tank.
  • Agassiz's Corydoras ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 6 cm · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish may bully the smaller Agassiz's Corydoras, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
  • Agassiz's Dwarf Cichlid ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 9 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Altifrons Geophagus ⚠️ With caution
    Medium care · Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Amano Shrimp ⚠️ With caution
    Easy care · Peaceful · 5 cm · 18–28 °C (64–82 °F)
    Adult Amano Shrimp might survive with Striped Raphael Catfish, but expect the young to be eaten — plant heavily.

+ 263 more “with caution” pairings — see the interactive checker above.

Fish to avoid keeping with a striped raphael catfish

  • Wels Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 300 cm · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Alligator Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 250 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Redtail Catfish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 120 cm · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Clown Knifefish ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
  • Spotted Gar ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 90 cm · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    Striped Raphael Catfish and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
  • Wolf Cichlid ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 72 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
  • Hard care · Aggressive · 70 cm · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Ocellaris Peacock Bass will hold territory and clash.
  • Mbu Puffer ⛔ Avoid
    Hard care · Aggressive · 67 cm · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Mbu Puffer will hold territory and clash.

+ 44 more to avoid — the checker above flags every one.

Check any fish against a striped raphael catfish

Dial in your exact tank size and filter by result — the checker scores every species in our database against a striped raphael catfish, with the reasoning for each verdict.

Will it live with a Striped Raphael Catfish?

We compare each fish against your striped raphael catfish on temperament, size, water parameters and swimming zone. Set your tank size and filter the results.

  • Banjo Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 15 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Bearded Corydoras✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Medium care · 18–24 °C (64–75 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–24 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
    • Keep Bearded Corydoras in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Bristlenose Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 23–30 °C (73–86 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Clown Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Giant Kuhli Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Leopard Frog Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 9 cm · Medium care · 25–30 °C (77–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 25–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Marbled Hoplo✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 14 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Medusa Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 26–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Porthole Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Rubber Lip Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Easy care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Snowball Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 20–26 °C (68–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here; temperature, pH and hardness ranges all overlap and neither outsizes the other enough to be a threat.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Peaceful · 15 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–26 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Striped Eel Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 12 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Compatible on the things that matter: shared water near 24–28 °C, workable temperaments, and no predator-and-prey size gap.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Upside-down Catfish✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Easy care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–26 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Weather Loach✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 25 cm · Easy care · 5–24 °C (41–75 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 24–24 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Zebra Pleco✅ Compatible
    Peaceful · 10 cm · Hard care · 26–30 °C (79–86 °F)
    • Semi-aggressive + Peaceful, but with no direct clash here, and their water overlaps around 26–28 °C — no size, zone or temperament conflicts.
    • Both favour the bottom of the tank — offer enough cover so they aren't always in each other's space.
  • Altifrons Geophagus⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~378 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Altifrons Geophagus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Angelicus Synodontis⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Blood Parrot Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Discus⚠️ With caution
    Peaceful · 20 cm · Hard care · 28–31 °C (82–88 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Discus are close in size, but the semi-aggressive one tends to dominate — add discus in a group to spread the pressure.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Discus in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Electric Blue Acara⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 22–28 °C (72–82 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Electric Blue Acara can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
  • Electric Blue Hap⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Different pH ranges (6.5–7.6 vs 7.8–8.5); doable if you sit in the shared band, but not ideal long-term.
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~250 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Emperor Peacock Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 16 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~210 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Fire Blue Empress Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~400 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Galaxy Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 25 cm · Medium care · 22–26 °C (72–79 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Goldie Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
  • Green Severum⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Green Severum can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~208 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Guyana Flag Cichlid⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Guyana Flag Cichlid can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Honeycomb Pleco⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 21 cm · Medium care · 24–29 °C (75–84 °F)
    • Both are a bit pushy (semi-aggressive + semi-aggressive) — workable only in a larger tank with cover and broken sight lines.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~280 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Platinum Acara⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–28 °C (73–82 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Platinum Acara can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spanner Barb⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 18 cm · Medium care · 23–29 °C (73–84 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Spanner Barb can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~208 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
    • Keep Spanner Barb in a shoal of 6+ or it gets stressed and nippy.
  • Tiger Loach⚠️ With caution
    Semi-aggressive · 20 cm · Medium care · 23–27 °C (73–81 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Tiger Loach can both be territorial; doable with space and dense planting, but watch for chasing.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~200 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Alligator Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 250 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Alligator Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Alligator Gar may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~3785 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Clown Knifefish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Clown Knifefish will hold territory and clash.
    • Clown Knifefish may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Mbu Puffer⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 67 cm · Hard care · 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Mbu Puffer will hold territory and clash.
    • Mbu Puffer may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~757 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Ocellaris Peacock Bass⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 70 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Ocellaris Peacock Bass will hold territory and clash.
    • Ocellaris Peacock Bass may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~750 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Redtail Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 120 cm · Hard care · 24–27 °C (75–81 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Redtail Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Redtail Catfish may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~5700 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Spotted Gar⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 90 cm · Hard care · 18–26 °C (64–79 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Spotted Gar are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Spotted Gar may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~600 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wels Catfish⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 300 cm · Hard care · 15–25 °C (59–77 °F)
    • Striped Raphael Catfish and Wels Catfish are both territorial and at least one is outright aggressive — expect serious fighting.
    • Wels Catfish may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~20000 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.
  • Wolf Cichlid⛔ Not recommended
    Aggressive · 72 cm · Hard care · 24–30 °C (75–86 °F)
    • Two assertive fish, one genuinely aggressive: Striped Raphael Catfish and Wolf Cichlid will hold territory and clash.
    • Wolf Cichlid may bully the smaller Striped Raphael Catfish, though its armour makes it a hard meal — give it caves and driftwood to retreat into.
    • Your 190 L tank is below the ~760 L this pairing really wants — crowding raises aggression.

Compatibility is computed from each species' care data — a strong starting point, not a guarantee. Individual temperament varies, so always introduce new fish slowly and watch them.

Setting up a striped raphael catfish community tank

Give the group a stable, planted 190 L+ tank with a gentle filter, a reliable heater and plenty of cover — broken sight lines and hiding spots let mid-water and bottom dwellers keep out of each other's way. Cycle it fully and stock gradually.

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How to choose the right tank mates for a striped raphael catfish

Being semi-aggressive, striped raphael catfish can nip or harass smaller, slower or long-finned fish — give it space, broken sight-lines and similarly robust companions. It mostly occupies the bottom of the tank, so it pairs naturally with species that use the other levels.

Striped Raphael Catfish grows to about 20 cm, so avoid tank mates small enough to be seen as food — as a rule of thumb, skip anything under roughly 10 cm. Match its water, too: aim for 24–28 °C (75–82 °F), pH 6.5–7.6 and 5–16 dGH. Fish needing very different conditions — coldwater species, or hard-water lovers against a soft-water fish — rarely thrive side by side.

Striped Raphael Catfish doesn't need its own kind to feel secure; think twice before keeping more than one if it is territorial. Whatever you add, introduce new fish slowly, watch for bullying in the first days, and have a backup plan if temperaments clash.

Frequently asked questions

Can a striped raphael catfish live with other fish?

Yes — with the right companions. Our checker finds 17 compatible freshwater species for striped raphael catfish. Pick calm, similarly-sized fish that share its water needs and add them to a mature, well-planted tank.

What is the best tank mate for a striped raphael catfish?

Easy, peaceful, similarly-sized species top the list — for example Porthole Catfish, Upside-down Catfish, Bristlenose Pleco. Use the checker above to match against your own tank size.

What fish should you avoid keeping with a striped raphael catfish?

Avoid Wels Catfish, Alligator Gar, Redtail Catfish and similar — usually a temperature, size or temperament clash. The full "avoid" list below gives the reason for each.

How big a tank do striped raphael catfish tank mates need?

Start from Striped Raphael Catfish's own minimum and scale up with every addition. The checker above defaults to a 190 L community tank and flags pairings that need more room — drag the slider to match your setup.