Do Megalechis thoracata school?

[Quokka]

(At this point I think I am obsessed with the family Callichthyidae )

I have the chance to get some young Megalechis thoracata (Only saw them in real life once!) and looking at their caresheets, they seem to be a fairly easy species to keep (As with most, if not all members of the family I love corys!)

However, unless I have been searching wrong, I have been unable to find whether they school like their cory cousins or if they are relatively solitary (given their larger size). Do they suffer if they are kept single or in pairs or trios? Do they need to be kept in groups of 5~6+ like corys?

On the subject of corys...since Megalechis thoracata are larger and they probably like rooting through the bottom I guess it is better to kept them apart from corys?

Thanks in advance!

[Bas Pels]

@ schooling, M thoracata do not swim that much, so I wonder how they could be schooling. I have their relative Hoplosternum littorale, which swims a lot more, but they do not school. Each one goes their own seperate way.

[Quokka]

@ schooling, M thoracata do not swim that much, so I wonder how they could be schooling. I have their relative Hoplosternum littorale, which swims a lot more, but they do not school. Each one goes their own seperate way.

Thanks yet again Bas!
So you imply a single thoracata individual will not feel lonely? I will still try to get a small group if possible!
My corys usually act individually but seem to feel relieved by each other's presence!

[Aqua_Bankie]

They dont school as such.

I have kept them individually ok and in pairs and groups, what I have observed is that while they dont school or swim in any formation etc however they appear to be fine with each others company mine would share the same log ,cave etc.

They can be quite boisterous at times mainly feeding but very peaceful hardy fish,I haven't kept them with Corys but they lived with Brochis fine in my old tank, a great species which I would keep again.

[Quokka]

They dont school as such.

I have kept them individually ok and in pairs and groups, what I have observed is that while they dont school or swim in any formation etc however they appear to be fine with each others company mine would share the same log ,cave etc.

They can be quite boisterous at times mainly feeding but very peaceful hardy fish,I haven't kept them with Corys but they lived with Brochis fine in my old tank, a great species which I would keep again.

Thank you for your reply! I will simply try to fit in as many as possible!

[N0body Of The Goat]

I used to have four with just one male and they were fairly social with each other, I've fond memories of them being very brave and being happy to come and eat Tetra Prima in the palms of my hand while my hands were immersed in their tank water.

[Quokka]

I used to have four with just one male and they were fairly social with each other, I've fond memories of them being very brave and being happy to come and eat Tetra Prima in the palms of my hand while my hands were immersed in their tank water.

Awwww how adorable! If I manage to get some shipped in I hope they will be as personable as they were!

[Fishmandavew]

Happy to lucky cats which whilst don't actively school, do seem to "come together" quite often throughout the day. Fine with corys from panda size upwards. Groups of three or four or more seem more natural in my opinion. Often bought small before sexable but males do seem to get on ok providing there is enough room /tank size. Seen one male chase another away but rarely.

[Quokka]

Happy to lucky cats which whilst don't actively school, do seem to "come together" quite often throughout the day. Fine with corys from panda size upwards. Groups of three or four or more seem more natural in my opinion. Often bought small before sexable but males do seem to get on ok providing there is enough room /tank size. Seen one male chase another away but rarely.

Thanks for your input! So anything smaller than panda cory size is either stressed or eaten?
I ordered 5; I hope they arrive safely! I hope they get along like everyone on this thread says!

[Quokka]

They are coming!! I wonder if they like eating red ramshorn snails though?

[characinfan]

Hey there -- I have had one M. thoracata for almost 9 years. (I initially bought two juvies, but the other one failed to thrive). Mine is a male and his only other tankmate is a 26-year-old Abramites hypselonotus who is now partially blind. My M. thoracata is peaceful but goes crazy for food and will suck worms (Eisinia fetida from the composter) out of my fingers. I think that having another fish in the tank, even though they are not the same species, keeps both fish calm.

Quokka, if M. thoracata eats ramshorn snails, they only eat snails that are small enough to swallow whole. I have a few in my tank. They do not appear to consume trumpet snails at all.

My M. thoractata also likes to build bubblenests in the spring using the greens I feed to the A. hypselonotus. There is a bit of non-aggressive drama because the catfish wants to assemble all the floating vegetation together while the headstander just wants to eat it.

[Bas Pels]

I never knew Abramites can get that old. I got 9 . And a pair of H littorale

[Quokka]

Hey there -- I have had one M. thoracata for almost 9 years. (I initially bought two juvies, but the other one failed to thrive). Mine is a male and his only other tankmate is a 26-year-old Abramites hypselonotus who is now partially blind. My M. thoracata is peaceful but goes crazy for food and will suck worms (Eisinia fetida from the composter) out of my fingers. I think that having another fish in the tank, even though they are not the same species, keeps both fish calm.

Quokka, if M. thoracata eats ramshorn snails, they only eat snails that are small enough to swallow whole. I have a few in my tank. They do not appear to consume trumpet snails at all.

My M. thoractata also likes to build bubblenests in the spring using the greens I feed to the A. hypselonotus. There is a bit of non-aggressive drama because the catfish wants to assemble all the floating vegetation together while the headstander just wants to eat it.

OMG that is one old headstander! You must take outstanding care of your fish!

Yessss from my experience too hoplos are extremely peaceful! Very curious and they love eating!

I got a bigger tank for all my fish and I moved my smallest hoplo (After checking with guppies first! They are doing well too) to see if they would fare well. At first it had panic colors and swam around frantically but soon adjusted with normal coloration. I added the other 3 (One disappeared without a trace...hmmm ) and the funny thing is the four started sticking together and foraging almost immediately with normal colors! I guess they do like company sometimes!

Also yeah as you said they do not eat ramshorms...I am having a population explosion haha My future turtle is going to love them

Thanks for all the nice replies!

[characinfan]

I never knew Abramites can get that old. I got 9 . And a pair of H littorale

Oh, so nice to hear of someone else keeping A. hypselonotus! They have a lot of personality. Mine is now "officially" 27, and still going strong.

[characinfan]

OMG that is one old headstander! You must take outstanding care of your fish!

Heh. He eats better than most people do! Lots of vegetables and fruit, some nuts, some shrimp pellets, some Hikari sinking wafers, and some composting worms (my hoplo also eats the fish food and worms).

[Bas Pels]

I got a school of 9, together with 4 Laemolyta taeniata (I had 7, but lost 3 in a bad waterchange. I still have no clue what went wrong) and 9 Triportheus angulatus

The latter also school