Hoplosternum???

clothahump · Post by **clothahump** » 14 May 2003, 19:52

Hoplosternum Littorale?

Post by **Silurus** » 14 May 2003, 20:21

Maybe. Could be H. magdalenae. Got a shot of the ventral plates?

clothahump · Post by **clothahump** » 14 May 2003, 20:43

Call me stupid HH, where and from what angle?

Post by **Silurus** » 14 May 2003, 20:45

The pectoral region from below.

clothahump · Post by **clothahump** » 14 May 2003, 21:43

Difficult shot to get, best so far.

Post by **Silurus** » 14 May 2003, 22:20

Yup, H. littorale alright.

clothahump · Post by **clothahump** » 14 May 2003, 22:42

Thanks HH, he came from Poole Aquarium when it closed down last year, no one wanted him until I turned up.
He was at the Aquarium for 8 years so this is his ninth year in captivity, great character.

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 15 May 2003, 18:40

Silurus wrote:Yup, H. littorale alright.

How were you able to tell from looking at the ventral plates?

Post by **Silurus** » 15 May 2003, 19:05

They are much more developed in H. magdalenae, so much so that the two large plates at the pectoral-fin base overlap slightly (the ones in Tim's fish don't even meet each other, much less overlap).

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 15 May 2003, 19:10

Are those the tan-coloured triangular structures?

Easy to check on mine when I get home, since they let me tickle them under the chin.

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 16 May 2003, 18:46

Well, they're about 1 mm apart on my female and 2.5 mm on the male. The inside edges run almost parallel on the female, but form more of a V shape on the male. A sex difference?

Post by **Silurus** » 16 May 2003, 18:50

Yes, males have shorter plates that are further apart.

Chrysichthys · Post by **Chrysichthys** » 16 May 2003, 19:04

Thanks, so it sounds like H. littorale then.