TankBud

Hoplo catfish

Hoplosternum littorale

Also known as Atipa, Cascadu, Common Hoplo Cat

FreshwaterFish

Hoplo catfish (Hoplosternum littorale)

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–81°F
22–27°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
40 gal
150 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Social
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Easy
Breeding
Bubble nester · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Callichthyidae
Origin
South America (Venezuela to Argentina, also Trinidad)

Overview

The Hoplo catfish is a large, mostly peaceful bottom feeder for a roomy community tank, and it is easy to keep.

Did you know

The Hoplo catfish swallows air at the surface and pulls oxygen from it through its gut. That lets it survive in warm, stagnant water that would suffocate most fish. The same trick lets hoplos wriggle short distances over wet ground to reach new pools when their water dries up.

Caring for the Hoplo catfish

Keep Hoplo catfish in 40 gal (150 L) or larger. They gulp air at the surface and are strong jumpers, so keep a tight, well-fitted lid on at all times. Leave a little open surface for them to come up and breathe.

Give them soft sand or a fine, smooth substrate so they can sift without tearing their barbels. Add driftwood and a few caves to shelter in.

Hold the water at 72 to 81°F (22 to 27°C) with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. Feed sinking pellets, frozen foods and the occasional meaty treat.

Hoplo catfish are social and do better with their own kind, so a small group suits them. They are mostly peaceful and live well with small community fish such as tetras, but they may eat fry and baby shrimp. Pair them with sturdy mid and upper level fish that are too big to be a midnight meal.

Breeding Hoplo catfish is moderately involved. Males build and guard a floating bubble nest, where the eggs are laid.

Good to know

The Hoplo catfish belongs to the family Callichthyidae and is related to the armored cories. A healthy adult is long lived and can stick around for several years. Most fish you find are wild caught from its broad native range. Other names for it include atipa and cascadu.

In the wild

Hoplo catfish range widely across South America, from Venezuela down to Argentina, and also live on Trinidad. They settle into slow, soft-bottomed waters such as ponds, ditches and flooded margins, which warm up and run low on oxygen.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Hoplo catfish is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a Hoplo catfish need?

A Hoplo catfish needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Hoplo catfish need?

A Hoplo catfish is comfortable at 72–81°F (22–27°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a Hoplo catfish eat?

A Hoplo catfish eats sinking pellets, frozen foods and the occasional meaty treat. It may also eat fry and baby shrimp in the tank.

How big does a Hoplo catfish get?

An adult Hoplo catfish reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

How does a Hoplo catfish breed?

Males build and guard a floating bubble nest, where the eggs are laid. Breeding Hoplo catfish is moderately involved.

Related species