Megalechis picta • Callichthyidae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Male
Female
Collected on the Rio Negro near Barcelos
Male
Male (showing near-touching coracoids)
Pair - female below
Female
Pair courting (female on right)
Dorsal view - adult male
Spawning bubble next
Close-up of spawning bubble nest
Five day old eggs, about to hatch
Male

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Megalechis picta** (Müller & Troschel, 1848)
Common Name(s)	Tail Bar Armoured Catfish, Tail Bar Hoplo
Type Locality	Mana, French Guiana
Synonym(s)	Callichthys longifilis, Callichthys pictus, Callichthys sulcatus, Callichthys thoracatus, Hoplosternum orinocoi, Hoplosternum thoracatum
Pronunciation	MEG ah LEK iss - pik tah
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	120mm (4.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Can be distinguished from the similar M. thoracata by the conspicuous dark vertical band in the caudal fin. In M . thoracta the caudal fin is all-over greyish.
Sexing	Males are larger and develop greatly lengthened pectoral fin rays. The males coracoids almost touch whilst the females (esp. if full of eggs) remain separate.
Habitat Information
Distribution	East of the Andes in the northern portion of South America, including the Amazonas and Orinoco rivers, as well as the coastal drainages of the Guianas 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) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	5.0 - 6.5
Temperature	18.0-28.0°C or 64.4-82.4°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Not a delicate fish when it comes to water conditions. Ideally the water should also be a little soft. Tolerates very low-oxygen content.
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	Floating plants are a good idea although this fish will live happily on most set-ups.
Compatibility	Peaceful and not predatory, although larger specimens can be downright boisterous at feeding time.
Suggested Tankmates	Ideal for mid to large sized community tanks. Best kept with other similarly active bottom feeders such as Brochis, most Botia loaches. They are even tough enough to be kept with Labeo 'sharks' and similar. This is a good catfish for an active, lively set-up featuring, for example, barbs or rainbowfish.
Breeding	Bubblenest builder. Well conditioned pairs should spawn readily, but a large water change should prompt spawning of a more reluctant pair.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	(1) hoplo (k: 222), who also notes: "Spawned 09/09/07 Eggs hatched 13/09/07 Temp 25c (77f) PH 4.4 Young doing ok approx 2" in size 01/01/08 The young are very different to the young of Thoracatum, they are very shy, only coming out to feed, excellent feeds though, will eat an", (2) einstein-a-go-go, (3) derrickrscott, (4) judeblackburn (k: 3), (5) syno321, (6) arthos (k: 2), who also notes: "Active little buggers", (7) snakelover, (8) coelacanth, (9) archaquatics. 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	- Search Planet Catfish for more on Megalechis picta - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Megalechis picta on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Megalechis picta on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	11531 hits.
Last Update	2006 Sep 03 05:53 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Megalechis picta (Müller & Troschel, 1848)

Common Name(s)

Tail Bar Armoured Catfish, Tail Bar Hoplo

Type Locality

Mana, French Guiana

Synonym(s)

Callichthys longifilis, Callichthys pictus, Callichthys sulcatus, Callichthys thoracatus, Hoplosternum orinocoi, Hoplosternum thoracatum

Pronunciation

MEG ah LEK iss - pik tah

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

120mm (4.7") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Can be distinguished from the similar M. thoracata by the conspicuous dark vertical band in the caudal fin. In M . thoracta the caudal fin is all-over greyish.

Sexing

Males are larger and develop greatly lengthened pectoral fin rays. The males coracoids almost touch whilst the females (esp. if full of eggs) remain separate.

Habitat Information

Distribution

East of the Andes in the northern portion of South America, including the Amazonas and Orinoco rivers, as well as the coastal drainages of the Guianas
Amazon (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
Orinoco Show it on a map

(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)

5.0 - 6.5

Temperature

18.0-28.0°C or 64.4-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Not a delicate fish when it comes to water conditions. Ideally the water should also be a little soft. Tolerates very low-oxygen content.

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

Floating plants are a good idea although this fish will live happily on most set-ups.

Compatibility

Peaceful and not predatory, although larger specimens can be downright boisterous at feeding time.

Suggested Tankmates

Ideal for mid to large sized community tanks. Best kept with other similarly active bottom feeders such as Brochis, most Botia loaches. They are even tough enough to be kept with Labeo 'sharks' and similar. This is a good catfish for an active, lively set-up featuring, for example, barbs or rainbowfish.

Breeding

Bubblenest builder. Well conditioned pairs should spawn readily, but a large water change should prompt spawning of a more reluctant pair.

Further Information

Registered Keepers

(1) hoplo (k: 222), who also notes: "Spawned 09/09/07 Eggs hatched 13/09/07 Temp 25c (77f) PH 4.4 Young doing ok approx 2" in size 01/01/08 The young are very different to the young of Thoracatum, they are very shy, only coming out to feed, excellent feeds though, will eat an", (2) einstein-a-go-go, (3) derrickrscott, (4) judeblackburn (k: 3), (5) syno321, (6) arthos (k: 2), who also notes: "Active little buggers", (7) snakelover, (8) coelacanth, (9) archaquatics.

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 species list

Add this species to your "my cats" page.

Breeding Reports

None.

More Resources

- Search Planet Catfish for more on Megalechis picta
Link

- BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
Look up AquaticRepublic.com

- Look up Megalechis picta on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up Fishbase

- Look up Megalechis picta on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
Link

- URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)

Hits

11531 hits.

Last Update

2006 Sep 03 05:53 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)

Length Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result

Temperature Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result

Volume Convertor (Hide)
Value	From	To	Result

Who is online