/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/1.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(1) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/2.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(2) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/3.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(3) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/4.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(4) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/5.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(5) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/6.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(6) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/7.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(7) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/8.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(8) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/9.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(9) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/10.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(10) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/11.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(11) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/12.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(12) Male - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/13.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(13) Female during spawning - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/14.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(14) Male during spawning - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/15.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(15) Pair during spawing - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/16.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(16) Bubble nest - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/17.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(17) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/18.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(18) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/19.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(19) Juvenile - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/20.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(20) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/21.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(21) Four weeks old - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/22.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(22) Six weeks old - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/23.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(23) Nine weeks old - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/megalechis/thoracata/24.jpg "Megalechis thoracata(24) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Megalechis thoracata (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840) |
| Common Name(s) | Armoured Catfish, Hoplo |
| Type Locality | Mana R., French Guiana. |
| Synonym(s) | Callichthys exaratus, Callichthys personatus, Hoplosternum personatus, Hoplosternum thoracatum surinamensis, Megalechis personata |
| Pronunciation | MEG ah LEK iss - tho rah KAT ah |
| Etymology | Megalechis: From the Greek megas, meaning large and lekis, meaning plate; in allusion to the extreme development of the coracoid bones on the breast of fully developed males. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 124mm (4.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Can be distinguished from the similar M. picta by the absence of a conspicuous dark vertical band in the caudal fin. In M . thoracata the caudal fin is all-over greyish. |
| Sexing | A sexually mature male exhibits a thickened first pectoral ray which ranges from orange / brown to scarlet in colour. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Trinidad, Guyana, Martinique, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru & Paraguay Amazon (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Orinoco  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)La Plata , Paraná , Paraguay , Upper Paraguay (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) Trinidad rivers (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 5.5 - 8.2 |
| Temperature | 17.0-28.0°C or 62.6-82.4°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | Able to survive in poor water conditions. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Not a fussy eater, most foods are accepted. Bloodworm and sinking catfish tablets are best, but once established will eat flakes at the surface. Larger fish will take cichlid tablets / doromin. |
| Furniture | Megalechis can be found in South American low-oxygen plant infested pools, almost puddles in some cases, but will happily live in most set-ups. |
| Compatibility | Peaceful and not predatory, although larger specimens can be downright boisterous at feeding time. |
| Breeding | Well conditioned pairs should spawn readily, but a large water change should prompt spawning of a more reluctant pair. Mature fish are typically 18 months to 2 years old. The male builds a large bubble nest, therefore surface movement from filtration should be kept to a minimum. A mass of floating plants (Wysteria is good) are necessary to anchor the nest. After spawning the male guards the nest. The eggs within should hatch after 4 days. The fry are free swimming after 2 days and should be fed newly hatched brine shrimp. They will grown rapidly and should be fed small amounts frequently for the first 6 - 8 weeks during which they can attain sizes of up to 1.5''. |
| Further Information | |
| Registered Keepers | (1) MatsP (p: 2, k: 4), who also notes: "Quick growth from two inches to almost four in about half a year. Very active and eats ANYTHING.", (2) TP (k: 10), (3) Iwona (k: 2), (4) Stephen, (5) ali12345 (k: 6), (6) hoplo (k: 994), who also notes: "Spawned 15/11/07 1 male with 2 females
Hatched 19/11/07
1456 young from that spawning
", (7) Daniel Machado, (8) Chrysichthys (k: 6), (9) CptnSpaulding, (10) ivokilli, (11) CatBrat, (12) fish fodder (k: 2), (13) mikelouth, (14) lazymf, (15) chrismarkham1982, (16) woofess, (17) Redcatman (k: 2), who also notes: "I live in a soft water area. The only water quality parameter measured regularly is pH which is kept between 6.5 and 7.0. Ammonia and nitrite are usually zero when I do occasionally measure it. Nitrate controlled by parial water changes every 2-3 weeks. The tank is filtered using an old (40 years!)Eheim external filter which has been in continuous use since it was purchased. Contains various Eheim filter materials also bought 40 years ago. Only material replaced is a layer of filter wool. Filter is cleaned out when water flow drops which is usually every 2-3 months.", (18) UNTgolf (k: 4), (19) ani-mal-lvr (k: 4), (20) amiidae, (21) Carp37 (p: 2, k: 7), who also notes: "3 females from Birelys on 28/6/07, plus 2 males from Hoplocat 14/07/08.", "Fish bred by Hoplocat- bought at SVAS auction. Originally had 4 in this tank- one female died 2009, most likely after getting stuck among wood decor; the second female had poorly developed fins and died April 2012.", (22) sherry44 (k: 6), who also notes: "arrived 26th sept 2007", (23) kagal, (24) irshprncsk, (25) Mrs.JP, (26) zenyfish (k: 3), (27) janev, (28) myrheksa (k: 8), (29) corydoras, (30) teddyman5 (k: 6), (31) Loracidlover (k: 2), (32) Pungen (k: 8), (33) Birger Amundsen, (34) joe.juice13, (35) SalmonAfrica, (36) Dinyar, (37) aledk85, (38) rayrich (k: 3), (39) kubastanik, (40) launcap (k: 3), (41) chalkvandam, (42) MADRacing, (43) geekshow, (44) le_fish, (45) Cornuta, (46) drgold (k: 8), (47) Phoxinus (k: 2), (48) Nick44 (k: 4), who also notes: "2 Pairs grown on from babies", (49) Chlngr (k: 3), (50) Kampfer, (51) theonetruepath, (52) GW_NL (k: 2), (53) thejudgement (k: 4), (54) kiwiplymouth, (55) fischkringli, (56) Reginator (k: 2), (57) dbrzz, (58) Birger (k: 9), (59) Juha (k: 5), (60) L number Banana (k: 2), who also notes: "Added purple beech leaves 4/22/09. PH at. 7.4 Spiral Vals, wisteria. Gravel from old tank, no filter, daily WC's at 10-15%. Airstone, AM sunlight. WC down to 15-20% weekly.
Making bubble nest 08/18/2009.
Update: No spawning occured. One died for no without the cause being identified. The other two are doing great. Size is approximate.", (61) eoibio, (62) walshy317, (63) paul, (64) Cory_lover (k: 2), who also notes: "Been keeping these awesome fish for close to 2 years now, and they just spawned for me last night! My first ever Hoplo spawning!! woo hoo! :)", (65) ozarowana (k: 5), (66) Komolaj1, (67) Jools (k: 6), who also notes: "Being kept in slow water with duckweed, beech leaves and low light.", (68) drpleco (k: 5), (69) jacobhayes79 (k: 2), (70) Back, (71) pickles4601 (p: 2), (72) Bloodywertzie, (73) markhinch, (74) Hikarixz (k: 2), (75) Riv (k: 6), (76) highoctane500 (k: 4), (77) Phyllonemus, (78) mummymonkey (k: 52), (79) ketteringta, (80) MattP (k: 3), (81) PeterUK (k: 2), (82) chubbikins, (83) TurnedTo, (84) tijani (k: 3), (85) Noturus, (86) therealpigdog (k: 4), (87) Richard B (k: 14), (88) andysfishhouse, (89) Dee (k: 2), (90) Mowin (k: 11), (91) Shaun (k: 2), (92) Lars Jamne (k: 102), who also notes: "Got one adult pair, breeds every 6-8 weeks.....", (93) Buddiechrist, (94) JamesStuddart (k: 7), (95) snowball (k: 2), (96) arapaimag (k: 9), (97) linden09, (98) Draco Spectrum (k: 4), (99) browny85, (100) Void (k: 2), (101) N0body Of The Goat (k: 4), who also notes: "Very friendly, regularly eat food from my fingers", (102) nurglespuss, (103) minkweir, (104) Lilredbeaver, (105) s0llem, (106) anthonyking, (107) Catfish freak (k: 44), (108) james gilbertson, who also notes: "By far the most gentle cat i ever had, this is big bad barry as named by my son,", (109) diikis, (110) francistrus (k: 3), (111) transporter42, (112) Jason.G, (113) Fruityscone. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
 - CotM  1997 August -
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| Hits | 38804 hits. |
| Last Update | 2009 Apr 15 02:47 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00) |
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