Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Hoplo Catfish
Megalechis thoracata (Valenciennes, 1840)
Also called Spotted hoplo, Black marble hoplo, Hoplosternum thoracatum (former name)
From Widespread in northern South America east of the Andes: the Amazon, Orinoco and upper Paraguay basins plus coastal rivers of the Guianas and northern Brazil, mainly in still waters.123
At a glance the quick version
Looks how to spot one
Armoured catfish (bony plates, no scales)
A sturdy armoured catfish clad in bony plates instead of scales, with sensitive barbels at the mouth. It is patterned with dark spots, which earns it the name spotted hoplo. In breeding condition males show a thickened orange-yellow first pectoral ray and a more colourful belly.3
Personality what they are like
Calm and tolerant, it fits with small tetras and barbs as well as larger, boisterous fish. The only time it gets feisty is when a male is guarding his bubble nest.32
Daily activity how busy a day looks
A bottom forager that also makes regular trips to the surface for air; it needs a roomy floor area and some cover.32
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
A soft sand bottom protects its barbels, and hiding places help it settle. Keep water mature and well filtered with routine partial changes.2
Home where they are happiest
Seriously Fish suggests a tank base of at least 120 x 38 cm (about 137 litres), 18 to 28 C, pH 6.0 to 8.0 and 0 to 20 dGH; Wikipedia advises at least 55 US gallons at 24 to 28 C.32
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Takes standard sinking aquarium foods readily, ideally with live or frozen extras; in the wild it eats small organisms and detritus.32
Company who they like around
Semi-social; Wikipedia suggests a group of five or more, and it mixes well with most community fish.23
The story where it all began
Achille Valenciennes described the spotted hoplo in 1840. Long sold as Hoplosternum thoracatum, it now sits in the genus Megalechis, and it is also eaten as a food fish in parts of South America.13
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It breathes air through its gut: it swallows a gulp at the surface and absorbs the oxygen through the lining of its stomach and intestine.2
- 2
Males build floating bubble nests, often anchored under plants, and the eggs hatch in about 48 hours.3
- 3
Males make sounds during territorial displays and spawning.2
- 4
FishBase classes it as an obligate air-breather.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 20 October 2020)1
- Taxonomy
- Described by Valenciennes in 1840; formerly placed in Hoplosternum3
- Family
- Callichthyidae (armoured catfishes)3
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Hoplo Catfish. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Megalechis thoracata fishbase.seused for distribution, size, weight, IUCN, air breathing
- Wikipedia: Megalechis thoracata en.wikipedia.orgused for common names, gut breathing, bubble nest, aquarium notes
- Seriously Fish: Megalechis thoracata seriouslyfish.comused for size, care, temperament, dimorphism, breeding, history
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.