hoplo confusion

ali12345 · Post by **ali12345** » 21 Feb 2007, 17:03

I have 5 hoplo cats but after reading posts about the 2 different species; Megalechis thoracata and picta,
i think I have 3 male of the latter and 2 of the former but unsure of sex. The picta have the tail stripe and orange long pectoral fin stripe. The others have shorter pectoral fins. They were purchased separately - I bought the 2 to go with the remaining 3 who were left after a tank failure.
How can I sex the thoracata?

I am in Surrey, UK and was wondering where I could get more of either or both.

thanks
Alison

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 26 Feb 2007, 12:11

From Cat-eLog of :

A sexually mature male exhibits a thickened first pectoral ray which ranges from orange / brown to scarlet in colour.

You don't say where in Surrey you are, but the "local" to me, Maidenhead Aquatics in Farnham (on the A325 towards Bordon, approx 2 miles outside Farnham, at the Country Market garden centre/car-boot site) had a bunch of them a couple of weeks ago. As recently as last saturday, they had a few at Lynchford Aquatics, Lynchford Road in North Camp (Farnborough).

That's M. thoracata to the best of my knowledge.

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Mats