LFS gave me this WC beauty - but what is it?

[miamitj]

My LFS had a couple cool looking and very active cats in their display tank. Apparently they are WC in my area (Miami) and he caught one for me and gave it to me. Its been in my tank for a couple months now and it one of my favorite cats but the LFS is now closed and I cant remember what species it is. Anyone have any idea?





ETA: I know its in the Hoplosternum family but figure out which one since several look similar to me ... (coloration is off for it to be a Megalechis picta correct?)

These are the ones I narrowed it down too ...

Hoplosternum littorale

Hoplosternum magdalenae

Hoplosternum punctatum

Megalechis picta

[Chrysichthys]

Probably Hoplosternum littorale, because that one is known to have become established in Florida, and is locally called the brown hoplo (even though they aren't brown).

[Jools]

Pretty sure it is

Hoplosternum littorale

.

Jools

[Chrysichthys]

As far as I know the other species haven't become established in Florida, but H. littorale is well-documented.

[sidguppy]

littorale is an exotic pest in Florida???

Yo, American fishermen: PLEAZE rid yourself of the pest and make a buck at the same time while exporting them to mainland Europe

this way you can turn a problem into a profit
and we get access to a fish that only occurs in trade in the the UK, Japan or the US.......

[Chrysichthys]

littorale is an exotic pest in Florida???

One report said it could become the 'dominant biomass' in some bodies of water.

They're supposed to be good to eat, though, that could be one way of making use of them.

[Richard B]

I think Sid would be v disappointed if they all got eaten if there was a remote possibility he could get his hands on a trio or two..

[MatsP]

I think Sid would be v disappointed if they all got eaten if there was a remote possibility he could get his hands on a trio or two..

I agree, but both suggestions are reasonable solutions to the problem of getting rid of pest fish. I'd take a pair of living ones too... [Despite Sid's suggestion that they "are only sold in the UK ...", they are not exactly common here either.

--
Mats

[Bas Pels]

littorale is an exotic pest in Florida???

One report said it could become the 'dominant biomass' in some bodies of water.

They're supposed to be good to eat, though, that could be one way of making use of them.

As fas as I know, people in Surinam eat them - and nowhere else

I'd be very happy with a few of those pests too

please

[Chrysichthys]

I have some. They can be a bit exasperating, because they beg incessantly for food, even when you would think that they can't possibly still be hungry.

[Chrysichthys]

[Despite Sid's suggestion that they "are only sold in the UK ...", they are not exactly common here either

Wholesale Tropicals had a tank full of juveniles last time I was there, priced at £5.00 each I think. Lots of them, they probably still have some.

[miamitj]

Thx for the responses ...

[sidguppy]

As fas as I know, people in Surinam eat them - and nowhere else

wellll, you're wrong on this count; I've eaten this species, back in the day when it wasn't a rare fish.
I have to admit that both Megalechis species taste a fair bit better than Hoplosternum littorale.

all three large 'hoplo' speciescan be bought as frozen fish in most Surinam toko's.
they're very common as a food supply and very rare as a live fish over here.

[Mike_Noren]

both suggestions are reasonable solutions to the problem of getting rid of pest fish

A number of introduced species in Florida would be very welcome at my LFS - for instance I'd really like to get hold of some of their Hemichromis letourneuxii, Poecilia velifera, or any of the transplanted Ammocrypta/Etheostoma.