/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/1.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(1) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/2.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(2) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/3.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(3) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/4.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(4) Close-up of mouth and barbels - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/5.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(5) Male - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/6.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(6) Tunapuna Market, Trinidad - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/7.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(7) Female - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/8.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(8) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/9.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(9) Albino - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/10.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(10) Albino - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/11.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(11) Stamp - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/12.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(12) - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/13.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(13) Bubblenest - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/14.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(14) Bubblenest - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/15.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(15) Male building nest - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/16.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(16) Eggs - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/17.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(17) Newly hatched fry - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/18.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(18) Seven days old - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/19.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(19) Four weeks old - Click to enlarge")
/callichthyidae/hoplosternum/littorale/20.jpg "Hoplosternum littorale(20) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828) |
| Common Name(s) | Brown Hoplo, Fork tailed Hoplo |
| Type Locality | Demerara: Guyana |
| Synonym(s) | Callichthys albidus, Callichthys chiquitos, Callichthys laevigatus, Callichthys littoralis, Callichthys melampterus, Callichthys subulatus, Cascadura maculocephala, Cataphractops melampterus, Hoplosternum laevigatum, Hoplosternum littorale daillyi, Hoplosternum schreineri, Hoplosternum shirui, Hoplosternum stevardii |
| Pronunciation | hop low STERN um - litt oh RAL |
| Etymology | Hoplosternum: From the Greek hoplon, meaning shield and sternum, meaning breast; in reference to the prominent coracoid bones on the breast. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 210mm (8.3") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| General Remarks | Grows to about 2 inches in 2 months; however, rarely exceeds 10 inches. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | 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 (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 5.9 - 7.2 |
| Temperature | 18.0-24.0°C or 64.4-75.2°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | Slightly hard or mildly brackish water - natural habitat 500-2000 microS/cm. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | Shouldn't be hard to feed. Eats insects, insect larvae and even detritus. |
| Breeding | Males build floating nests in vegetation near shore that consist of bubbles covered with plant material. Eggs are released by the female below the nest. The male fertilizes them and then takes them into his mouth and blows them up into the floating nest. Breeding males develop enlarged, red pectoral spines with hooks at the tips that are used to defend territories against other males. The eggs hatch in about four days. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Zool. J. v. 4 244 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) natefrog, (2) hoplo (k: 39), who also notes: "Spawned 02/01/08
Spawned 27/4/08", (3) Daniel Machado, (4) daniel60 (k: 4), (5) synoguy (k: 3), who also notes: "Very peaceful, very active during all hours. Have been known to interact with their owners and allow hand feeding etc.", (6) Chrysichthys (k: 3), (7) fwlion, (8) lazymf, (9) ElectricYellowPlecostomus, (10) Kara, who also notes: "This fish is very docile and does eat out of my hand.", (11) San, (12) TP (k: 5), (13) Phoxinus (k: 2), (14) ahodge84, (15) winbill, (16) Madding, (17) katgermain, (18) arthos, (19) musilvr4eva (k: 4), (20) crkinney (k: 3), who also notes: "Started nesting 04/30/2011", (21) Bas Pels (p: 2, k: 5), (22) catfish-pigeon, who also notes: "Personable, loves to interact with me if she's hungry!". 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 |
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| Hits | 15085 hits. |
| Last Update | 2011 Aug 15 03:05 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00) |
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