Spotted Hoplo Catfish
|
Scientific Name: Megalechis thracata Price: Upon Request Origin: Amazon Family: Callichthyidae NOT AVAILABLE NOW |
|
Other Names: Brown hoplo, hoplo catfish |
|
Technical Info
Temperature: 20 - 30 ℃
pH: 6.5 - 7
GH: 5.5 - 8.3
Max size: 17 cm
Min Tank size: 100 Ltr
Description
Anyone that sees young hoplos cannot help but be struck by their attractive appearance – a bit like an elongated corydoras catfish, which they resemble in many ways. They cost about twice as much as corys, which means they’re still affordable. Since we only see them part of the year, we assume they are a seasonal catfish.
Food
Hoplosternum thoracatum (Brown hoplo) accepts frozen foods and most type of pellets. They sometimes accept flake food.
Breeding
Hoplosternum thoracatum (Brown hoplo) can be breed in aquariums and the spawning is triggered large water changes using cool water and thereby quickly lowering the temperature. Males that are in breeding condition displays a blue/purple sheen on the under belly. Hoplosternum thoracatum (Brown hoplo) builds bubble nest containing vegetable parts. The parents should be removed from the aquarium after spawning or they will eat their own eggs and fry.
Compatible with
Feel free to keep your hoplo catfishes with same size South, Central, and North American cichlids. Few South American catfishes will co-exist with African cichlids. Hoplos will co-exist with most species. They are ideal in unheated goldfish aquaria.
Note
Hoplosternum thoracatum (Brown hoplo) prefers a planted aquarium with open areas. The bottom should be covered in a fine grained smooth bottom substrate that allows for digging.