Spotted hoplo
Megalechis thoracata
Also known as Marble hoplo
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–8.0
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Omnivore
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Breeding
- Bubble nester · Hard
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Callichthyidae
- Origin
- Venezuela, The Guianas, Colombia
Overview
The spotted hoplo is a peaceful armored catfish for the bottom of a large community tank. It is easy to keep.
Did you know
The spotted hoplo can make a faint croaking sound when it is handled, and hobbyists sometimes hear it. The sound comes from movement of its pectoral spines.
Caring for the spotted hoplo
Give a spotted hoplo a tank of at least 40 gal (150 L), and keep a small group if you have room. Use a soft sand bottom it can sift through, with some leaf litter or driftwood for cover and gentle filtration.
It handles a wide temperature range, from 64 to 82°F (18 to 28°C). Aim for soft to neutral water with a pH of 6.0 to 8.0. The spotted hoplo is an omnivore that scavenges, so sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and the occasional vegetable all work.
It is peaceful, gets along with other calm community fish and does not bother its tank mates. During spawning, the male whips up a foam nest at the surface and packs it under a floating leaf or plant. He guards the eggs there until they hatch, and breeding is hard.
Good to know
The spotted hoplo is an armored catfish in the family Callichthyidae, so its body is covered in bony plates instead of scales. It is an air-breather that can take oxygen from the surface using its gut.
In the wild
The spotted hoplo comes from northern South America, including Venezuela, the Guianas and Colombia. It lives in slow, shallow, often muddy waters that can get low in oxygen.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The spotted hoplo is a 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.
Neocaridina shrimp
Neocaridina davidi
Freshwater1.6 in (4 cm) · 5 gal (19 L)59–84°F (15–29°C)
Guppy
Poecilia reticulata
FreshwaterBrackish2.4 in (6 cm) · 10 gal (38 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Neon tetra
Paracheirodon innesi
Freshwater1.5 in (3.8 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)70–77°F (21–25°C)
Everett's barb
Barbodes everetti
Freshwater4.7 in (12 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Giant brochis
Brochis britskii
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a spotted hoplo need?
A spotted hoplo needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a spotted hoplo need?
A spotted hoplo is comfortable at 64–82°F (18–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–8.0.
What does a spotted hoplo eat?
A spotted hoplo is an omnivore that scavenges. Feed it sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and the occasional vegetable.
How big does a spotted hoplo get?
An adult spotted hoplo reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
How does a spotted hoplo breed?
Males whip up a foam nest at the surface and pack it under a floating leaf or plant. The male guards the eggs there until they hatch, and breeding the spotted hoplo is hard.
Related species
5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)Bar-tailed hoplo
Megalechis picta
5.9 in (15 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
4.9 in (12.5 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–82°F (25–28°C)Flagtail catfish
Dianema urostriatum
4.9 in (12.5 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)26 gal (100 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Porthole catfish
Dianema longibarbis
3.9 in (10 cm) · 26 gal (100 L)
- 3.5 in (9 cm)40 gal (150 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Giant brochis
Brochis britskii
3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)40 gal (150 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Hognosed brochis
Brochis multiradiatus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)40 gal (150 L)70–82°F (21–28°C)Emerald catfish
Brochis splendens
3.1 in (8 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)