hoplo cats?

[Backfromthedead]

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.

 

[Hendre]

The ones I've seen at London zoo were very nice and busy! Quite an awesome fish, slow but purposeful movement

 

[thefredpit]

from the planet catfish photos they don't look spiney

 

[monkeybike]

They are very busy cats, my pair are constantly moving and sifting sand. They will eat from my hand at the surface as well. They are very personable.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

one catfish i dont know much about but very interested in.
*****Nice. Humble and under-appreciated catfish.

are they more gregarious and active like a big cory?
*****Yup. Tireless cleaners of every and all surfaces.

or are they reclusive and nocturnal like a raphael?
*****Nope.

are they spiny like a raphael?
*****No. But they are armored with ring-like armor plates with each ring encasing the whole body and with rings running in the body length direction.

any good vendors selling them?
*****Aquabid. Common hoplos are invasive in FL, live in every puddle.

 

[Backfromthedead]

one catfish i dont know much about but very interested in.
*****Nice. Humble and under-appreciated catfish.

are they more gregarious and active like a big cory?
*****Yup. Tireless cleaners of every and all surfaces.

or are they reclusive and nocturnal like a raphael?
*****Nope.

are they spiny like a raphael?
*****No. But they are armored with ring-like armor plates with each ring encasing the whole body and with rings running in the body length direction.

any good vendors selling them?
*****Aquabid. Common hoplos are invasive in FL, live in every puddle.

thanks for the info. i have a couple follow ups.

do you recommend them as a companion for larger, aggressive cichlids? im just trying to gauge how well they defend themselves and their attitudes.

and you mentioned common hoplo. are there exotic hoplos available in the hobby?

thanks.

 

[Chub_by]

Possibly the most underrated catfish out there! They do good with cichlids, obviously grow them out to a decent size though.

On the market there are usually common hoplos (megalechis thoracata) to be found. Dianema sp. and different callichthys are also often referred to as hoplos.

 

[thebiggerthebetter]

thanks for the info. i have a couple follow ups.

do you recommend them as a companion for larger, aggressive cichlids? im just trying to gauge how well they defend themselves and their attitudes.

and you mentioned common hoplo. are there exotic hoplos available in the hobby?

thanks.

I've never had mine with large aggressive cichlids, so others will have to advise. I had one hoplo who was ~10"-12", got it from George Fear of Shark Aquarium, Hillside, NJ in 2010. Different species vary in size. Most are far smaller.

I don't remember the name of the common hoplo we have everywhere here. Perhaps Chubs got it right. But unless I am not mistaken, "exotic" means "not from around here". All hoplos are exotic to North America. That common hoplo is an invasive exotic.

As Chubs said, there are more than one genus and more species available in the trade.

 

[moe214]

I kept one with juvenile cichlids for awhile when I was in elementary school don't remember having any issues.

 

[davemal]

My 3 love to dig they also like to stick together so maybe a group is best. They cause no trouble to any other fish and seem active at all times. Sand is good for them to dig in mine seem to graze algae but also take small sinking pellets. They grow pretty slowly and seem to hang around the bottom mainly.