Hoplo, Lepthoplo, Megalechis or what?

[Marcos Montes]

Hi all, I just bought two Callichthys callichtys and two others called "Hoplosternum littorale". As soon as I spotted them in the LFS, I noticed the caudal fin was not v-shaped, but rounded like that of the Callichthys. But they were definitely not young callichthys, I could tell by the size and place of their eyes. Mind you, all these species are endemic here (I live in Buenos Aires, near La Plata, Argentina). I started looking at photographs. Unfortunately a friend away in Switzerland took away my camera for his trip, and I won't count on it till Sep 4. The fish has spots, but they don't show as clearly as on a Megalechis thoracata. An underside view displays a whitish ventral look with even dark spots (like a Dalmatian dog). But on the dorsal part it's brownish and not so speckled (stress?). They must be 6 cm (2,5 inches) long. And the tail, as I've said, is perfectly rounded with very fine dark spots against a yellowish base. Any guess to help me out till I get the camera?

Marcos

[Silurus]

Are you able to see the coracoids (the large bony plates on the chest)? If so, then you have Lepthoplosternum.

[Marcos Montes]

Oh, yes, I can see them very clearly. Have you got any photograph to post?

Marcos

[Silurus]

There are pictures in this pdf.

[Marcos Montes]

Thanks, Silurus! That´s been most helpful...
As soon as I get a snapshot I'll post it here

[hoplo]

Hi Marcos,

Click on the link and it will take you to my picture of a Lepthoplosternum pectorale in the Cat-eLog.



I hope the picture helps you.

Vicky. xx

[Mod edit: Insert image instead of link to image --Mats]

Thanks Mats

[Marcos Montes]

Hi Vicky,

thank you so much for your help. The spotting pattern of your Lepthoplosternum is exactly like mine, as far as the fins are concerned; because in my case the base colour is a reddish chestnut, as I happen to see now in dayight, but we can point that as variability according to biotopes, can't we?
They only arrived yesterday; they remain extremely shy for now. I've housed them with a couple of young Australoheros facetum (cichlids) and a Rineloricaria sp. All these fish coexist in the same habitat here in Argentina.
How many Lehtoplosternum do you have and how long have you kept them?

Marcos

[hoplo]

Hi Marcos,

We have the breeding group 4 females and 1 males.

We have about 10 or so other adult in other tanks.

Then we have about 600 babys and they spawned again on the 26-8-08.

Vicky. xx

P.S. Also here few picture of our Hoplosternum littorale you can see they are very different to the Lepthoplosternum pectorale

[hoplo]

Oops sorry forgot to say how long we have had them.

Well i think we have had them about 4 or 5 years now.

It took some finding them too, in the end it was a 150 mile round trip to get them, but it was worth it.

Vicky. xx

[Marcos Montes]

Oh my! 150 mile round trip to get them! It sure was worth it, since you've had so many offspring...
Vicky, thanks for all the information.
All of a sudden, my Lepthoplosternum have become extremely bold, eating tubifex form my hand on the second night of arrival. Couldn't quite believe it. They never hide and are actually very active in daylight (though they swim around more at dusk), regards,

Marcos