Tail Bar Hoplo Catfish

Remarks:  The tail bar hoplo catfish is an attractively patterned species of hoplo that bears a strong resemblance to the more commonly seen spotted hoplo (Megalechis thoracata). While both fish display the same fin shape and mottled pattern of tans, blacks, and browns, the pattern on the caudal fin sets them apart. The tail bar hoplo catfish, as its common name implies, has a black vertical bar going through the middle of their caudal fin while the spotted hoplo instead has variable black spots. Adult males of both species will add a splash of color in the form of orange primary pectoral fin rays. Another similarity the two species share is that both are a smaller hoplo catfish that rarely exceeds 6 inches in length making them a better choice for medium-sized aquariums.

  The native range of hoplo catfish extends throughout South America but the tail bar hoplo catfish is most often found in the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. They inhabit a broad range of habitats with some even having anoxic conditions. To deal with this lack of oxygen in stagnant environments, hoplo catfish have developed the amazing ability to take in supplemental oxygen by taking gulps of air from the surface. This ability broadly expands the areas that hoplo catfish can inhabit where they will have little to no competition for food from other species and have access to plenty of insect larvae that are most plentiful in stagnant water. These make up a large part of the hoplo catfish’s diet. They are omnivores that will eat just about anything they can forage, but they heavily lean toward a more carnivorous diet. In the aquarium, this should be replicated with foods high in insect protein to help the hoplo catfish thrive.

  Due to the hoplo catfish evolving to withstand a wide variety of habitats and conditions, they have become a very hardy fish that do excellent in the home aquarium. While they prefer soft, acidic water parameters, they can do just fine in neutral to slightly hard and alkaline conditions. Hoplo catfish are also fantastic in regards to their temperament and compatibility as they are peaceful and will usually leave anything too big to be swallowed alone. Their thick armor plating and fast swimming speed makes them a great choice to go with larger, more aggressive fish such as green terrors so long as they have a hiding space to retreat to. It should be noted they are voracious eaters so while that carries the positive of them being able to compete with other eager feeders such as botia, it can make them a poor tankmate for more shy natured fish. Being a shoaling species, they will appreciate the company of their own kind and keeping them in groups will result in very fascinating behaviors. With all these aspects in mind, it isn’t hard to see why the hoplo catfish is an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced fishkeepers alike.