PlanetCatfish.com - Hoplisoma sterbai (Callichthyidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Callichthyidae Corydoradinae Hoplisoma | |

Pair spawning
Ten week old juveniles
Albino and normal forms
Eggs
Three week old fry

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Hoplisoma sterbai** (Knaack, 1962)
Common Names	Sterba's Cory Sterba's Pansermalle (Denmark), Sterba's Panzerwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Rio Guaporé, Brazil.
Pronunciation	hop lee so mah - ster bye
Etymology	Specifically named in honour of Dr. Günther Sterba.
Articles	- CotM 2003 July - Shane's World Reproduction Breeding Corydoras sterbai
Species Information
Size	68mm or 2.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	It is hard to misidentify this species but it can be confused with Corydoras haraldschultzi, although the latter is a long-nosed species where C. sterbai is the dome-headed form - the easiest way to tell them apart is that the Sterba's Cory has white spots on its head from eyes down to snout. C. haraldschultzi does not. Corydoras sterbai has is commercially bred in albino form.
Sexing	Males are smaller and slimmer. Females grow larger and are much wider; most easily observed from above.
General Remarks	In future, this species is likely to turn out to be new, and C. sterbai be a lineage 8 species rarely seen in the trade.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: central Brazil and Bolivia. Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira, Mamoré, Guaporé (Iténez) (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	One species of Corydoras that does not seem to mind higher temperatures.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Readily accepts a wide variety of frozen and prepared foods in the aquarium. User data.
Furniture	Shade provided by overhanging rock work, arching bogwood, tall or floating plants are all that is required. Ideally substrate should be sand, but rounded gravel will suffice.
Compatibility	Peaceful. Tank raised fish are ideal first catfish for a beginner's community aquarium. Wild caught fish will tend to be more expensive and somewhat less hardy.
Suggested Tankmates	Keep in a shoal of at least 6 individuals ideally with similarly sized tetras and dwarf cichlids. A good species for the discus aquarium.
Breeding	See Shane's World article (link below). Tank-bred specimens that are frequently found in the shops appear relatively easy to breed, where wild-caught specimens are reported to be a bit more difficult.
Breeding Reports	There are 51 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Senckenbergiana Biologica v. 43 (no. 2), pp 131, Pl. 12 (figs. 2a-c).
Registered Keepers	There are 778 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 12 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 217 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.1.1580.316
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2001 May 04 00:00)