Hoplo cats

[NoodleCats]

Tell about them...

Im planning a large tank in the future, but a fish that caught my attention are hoplos, more so the spotted hoplo.

Ive found research that theyre peaceful enough but, there are a few questions i still have.


Are they shoaling or solo? If shoaling, how many?

Are they adult cory-compatible? This would be a deal breaker if theyre not as i plan to move my cories to the future large tank (large as in 90-200 gal range, unsure what size id like to go as its in the future still). If not cory friendly, ill stick with the smaller porthole cat instead.


Bonus, if you got photos of your hoplos, id be happy to see them, i think theyre cute.

 

[tlindsey]

Tell about them...

Im planning a large tank in the future, but a fish that caught my attention are hoplos, more so the spotted hoplo.

Ive found research that theyre peaceful enough but, there are a few questions i still have.


Are they shoaling or solo? If shoaling, how many?

Are they adult cory-compatible? This would be a deal breaker if theyre not as i plan to move my cories to the future large tank (large as in 90-200 gal range, unsure what size id like to go as its in the future still). If not cory friendly, ill stick with the smaller porthole cat instead.


Bonus, if you got photos of your hoplos, id be happy to see them, i think theyre cute.

They should be fine with the Corydora.

 

[DwarfCichlidLvr]

Tell about them...

Im planning a large tank in the future, but a fish that caught my attention are hoplos, more so the spotted hoplo.

Ive found research that theyre peaceful enough but, there are a few questions i still have.


Are they shoaling or solo? If shoaling, how many?

Are they adult cory-compatible? This would be a deal breaker if theyre not as i plan to move my cories to the future large tank (large as in 90-200 gal range, unsure what size id like to go as its in the future still). If not cory friendly, ill stick with the smaller porthole cat instead.


Bonus, if you got photos of your hoplos, id be happy to see them, i think theyre cute.

Are you moving soon?

(you know me but most people don't so I have to let everybody know) I have never had or worked with hoplos. I haave researched them a little though.

they aren't a schooling fish but like company. In a 90 long I'd say 5 in a 200 Id say 12
Should be fine with your corys. (just not your pygmies but I know you wouldn't but them with them)

 

[Fishman Dave]

Hoplos are not shoalng as such as adults but "interactive" in that they occasionally seem to seek each others company for short periods.
perfectly fine with corys, and tbh with most fish. I had my four adults with four different groups of Cory cats in a 100g, the smallest being panda corys.
Recentish pictures of my VERY old females

 

[Backfromthedead]

Heres a thread i got some good info on awhile back:

hoplo cats?

one catfish i dont know much about but very interested in. are they more gregarious and active like a big cory? or are they reclusive and nocturnal like a raphael? are they spiny like a raphael? any good vendors selling them? thanks all.

www.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[Ogertron3000]

I had 3 in a community tank, 2 female and 1 male with angels , cories and tetras.i loved them but they freaked most people out. They were peaceful and as said in another post they'd interacted but didn't seem to need each other. There were no aggression issues, the only thing was if I got some bloodworms on the graound for the cories they would just bulldoze them out of the way and suck the worms down. I thought it was funny but I'm sure the cories didn't. They also used to uproot the plants which was annoying, never could figure out why they used to do it. Overall they are like the pictus cats weird chilled out cousin, less frantic and slick but with their own style which grows on you.
I'd highly recommend them as long as you don't mind visitors to your house constantly saying how ugly they are.

 

[Luke tomkinson]

 

[NoodleCats]

I had 3 in a community tank, 2 female and 1 male with angels , cories and tetras.i loved them but they freaked most people out. They were peaceful and as said in another post they'd interacted but didn't seem to need each other. There were no aggression issues, the only thing was if I got some bloodworms on the graound for the cories they would just bulldoze them out of the way and suck the worms down. I thought it was funny but I'm sure the cories didn't. They also used to uproot the plants which was annoying, never could figure out why they used to do it. Overall they are like the pictus cats weird chilled out cousin, less frantic and slick but with their own style which grows on you.
I'd highly recommend them as long as you don't mind visitors to your house constantly saying how ugly they are.

Lol i rarely have visitors, im social phobic and dont like people over! So that works.

Plus, i don't care if others think theyre ugly, i think theyre adorable. Those whiskers!
I keep a couple one eyed fish, so im not too concerned for looks.

But, for plants, i did read that and it was a concern, but im thinking some swords because they have massive roots and should stay anchored pretty well. I already have some massive 24"+ swords in my 46 which will probably be the ones moved over. I don't think i will keep many other plants as im picturing more of a biotope type set up with more driftwood and debris like much of the orinoco river. Thinking the hoplos would be my centerpiece...

But, last question for now... compatible with neon tetras or black neons? Those would be my upper level fish in this tank. Aiming for a 5 foot or more tank.

Cories to be moved to this tank would be my trilineatus, sterbai, weitzmani, and aeneus. Pygmaeus wont be moved out of their nano, they wouldnt compete well for food, to answer DwarfCichlidLvr the weitzmani would be the smallest species of cory at 2.2"

 

[MatteoTheEnder22]

I only personally seen brown hoplos in person and they eat whatever they can fit in there mouth theres quite a population down here in south florida but not as much as the common pleco

 

[Ogertron3000]

Lol i rarely have visitors, im social phobic and dont like people over! So that works.

Plus, i don't care if others think theyre ugly, i think theyre adorable. Those whiskers!
I keep a couple one eyed fish, so im not too concerned for looks.

But, for plants, i did read that and it was a concern, but im thinking some swords because they have massive roots and should stay anchored pretty well. I already have some massive 24"+ swords in my 46 which will probably be the ones moved over. I don't think i will keep many other plants as im picturing more of a biotope type set up with more driftwood and debris like much of the orinoco river. Thinking the hoplos would be my centerpiece...

But, last question for now... compatible with neon tetras or black neons? Those would be my upper level fish in this tank. Aiming for a 5 foot or more tank.

Cories to be moved to this tank would be my trilineatus, sterbai, weitzmani, and aeneus. Pygmaeus wont be moved out of their nano, they wouldnt compete well for food, to answer DwarfCichlidLvr the weitzmani would be the smallest species of cory at 2.2"

Mine were with rummy noses and Colombian tetra and didn't have any drama. I personally wouldn't put them with neons as they are small enough for them to eat. Hoplos aren't fast and neons are so it might be ok but I wouldn't take the risk.
I always laughed when people said how ugly they were, they were so cool and friendly, even eating from my hand that it wasn't worth worrying what others thought.