Hypostomus margaritifer • Loricariidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Hypostomus margaritifer** (Regan, 1908)
Common Name(s)	Yellow Spotted Hypostomus
Type Locality	Rio Piracicaba, San Paulo, Brazil.
Synonym(s)	Hypostomus butantanis, Plecostomus margaritifer
Pronunciation	hi POSS tow muss - mar gar IT if err
Etymology	Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth.
Species Information
Size	180mm (7.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Very similar to H. regani from the same river. H. margaritifer is deeper bodied and generally more chunky.
Sexing	Unknown although examination of the genital area in a group of large adults should show differences.
Habitat Information
Distribution	São Paulo, Brazil La Plata, Paraná, Upper Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there) La Plata, Paraná, Middle Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Slightly soft water is preferable.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Most greens are accepted (cucumber and courgette / zucchini seem favourite), but this fish loves to chew on dead fish and will accept most sinking foods once acclimatized.
Furniture	Plants must be well rooted and protected by rock work to avoid accidental up-rooting. Rocks and Bogwood do well, especially large rounded rock. This fish is equally happy on sand or large pea-shaped substrate.
Compatibility	As with most large Loricariids, this is a territorial but otherwise peaceful fish. It can be mixed with small fish more easily than other large catfish. Once an appropriate size, will withstand the rigours of an American Cichlid tank.
Suggested Tankmates	Anything from tetras to large cichlids, preferably South American, but will mix with all sizes of community fish - be careful adding it with other large catfish that everyone has room to grow.
Breeding	Unknown - a real challenge!
Further Information
References	Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.1907 (pt 4) - pp796 - Pl. 47 (fig. 2)
Registered Keepers	(1) clunkster, (2) Chrysichthys. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 1999 August
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Last Update	2004 Oct 02 00:00 (species record created: 2002 Feb 25 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Hypostomus margaritifer (Regan, 1908)

Common Name(s)

Yellow Spotted Hypostomus

Type Locality

Rio Piracicaba, San Paulo, Brazil.

Synonym(s)

Hypostomus butantanis, Plecostomus margaritifer

Pronunciation

hi POSS tow muss - mar gar IT if err

Etymology

Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth.

Species Information

Size

180mm (7.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Very similar to H. regani from the same river. H. margaritifer is deeper bodied and generally more chunky.

Sexing

Unknown although examination of the genital area in a group of large adults should show differences.

Habitat Information

Distribution

São Paulo, Brazil
La Plata, Paraná, Upper Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Paraná, Middle Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.0 - 7.6

Temperature

24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Slightly soft water is preferable.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Most greens are accepted (cucumber and courgette / zucchini seem favourite), but this fish loves to chew on dead fish and will accept most sinking foods once acclimatized.

Furniture

Plants must be well rooted and protected by rock work to avoid accidental up-rooting. Rocks and Bogwood do well, especially large rounded rock. This fish is equally happy on sand or large pea-shaped substrate.

Compatibility

As with most large Loricariids, this is a territorial but otherwise peaceful fish. It can be mixed with small fish more easily than other large catfish. Once an appropriate size, will withstand the rigours of an American Cichlid tank.

Suggested Tankmates

Anything from tetras to large cichlids, preferably South American, but will mix with all sizes of community fish - be careful adding it with other large catfish that everyone has room to grow.

Breeding

Unknown - a real challenge!

Further Information

References

Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond.1907 (pt 4) - pp796 - Pl. 47 (fig. 2)

Registered Keepers

(1) clunkster, (2) Chrysichthys.

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles