Hoplo catfish
Hoplosternum littorale
- Adult size
- 15 cm6 in
- Start with
- 3
- Tank length
- 60 cm24 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
- Temperature
- 22–27 °C72–81 °F
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Hardness
- 6–22 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A hardy, heavy-bodied armoured catfish that stirs the substrate and produces a large bioload; males build bubble nests.A hardy, heavy-bodied armoured catfish that stirs the substrate and produces a large bioload; males build bubble nests.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Hoplo catfishAlligator gar may eat Hoplo catfish
- Altum angelfish
No shared water hardness rangeNo shared water hardness range
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Hoplo catfishArapaima may eat Hoplo catfish
Sources
| temperature | 22–27 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6.5–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 6–22 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Widespread in tropical South America east of the Andes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A hardy, heavy-bodied armoured catfish that stirs the substrate and produces a l | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | easy | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #6A5A44, #3A3226 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| social min | 3 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 18 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.016,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | cory | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |