{"product_id":"brown-spotted-hoplo-megalechis-thoracata","title":"Brown Spotted Hoplo | Megalechis thoracata","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Brown Spotted Hoplo is an armoured, bubble-nesting catfish with bags of personality and a hardy, peaceful nature. A chunky, characterful bottom-dweller that reaches around 15–18 cm, it is a rewarding fish for a larger community, cruising the lower levels and rooting cheerfully through the substrate.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eMegalechis thoracata is widespread across northern and central South America, living in slow rivers, swamps, ditches and floodplain pools — often in oxygen-poor, murky water. To cope, it gulps air at the surface and absorbs oxygen through its gut, an adaptation that also makes it very hardy in the aquarium.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe body is protected by two rows of overlapping bony plates, giving it its armoured 'hoplo' look. Colouration is a mottled grey-brown to olive, patterned with darker spots and blotches, with a pale belly. Breeding males develop thickened, often reddish or bluish pectoral fin spines.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful and easygoing despite its size, the hoplo ignores tank mates too large to eat and spends its time foraging along the bottom. It suits a robust community of medium to large fish, and being social, appreciates the company of its own kind or other similarly sized catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn unfussy omnivore, it takes sinking pellets and wafers, plus live and frozen foods such as bloodworm, earthworm, prawn and brine shrimp. It forages actively over the substrate and will make short work of most sinking foods offered in the evening.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of 200 L, ideally 250 L or more, with a soft sand or fine-gravel bottom, plenty of cover from wood and rocks, and a secure lid — it is an air-breather that may dart to the surface. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and soft to moderately hard water. Generally plant safe, though it may disturb loosely rooted plants while foraging.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Brown Spotted Hoplo is a bubble-nest builder. The male constructs a raft of bubbles, often under a floating leaf or at the surface, guards the nest of eggs vigorously and tends them until the fry are free-swimming — an unusual and fascinating behaviour for a catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMegalechis thoracata\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrown Spotted Hoplo (Spotted Hoplo Catfish)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNorthern and central South America\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 15–18 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8–10 years with good care\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner to intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e250 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, live and frozen bloodworm, earthworm, prawn, brine shrimp\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoft to moderately hard, around 3–18 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger robust community tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly — may disturb loosely rooted plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include larger peaceful community fish and cichlids such as severums, eartheaters, larger tetras and barbs, silver dollars, plecos and other robust catfish.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with very small fish or shrimp that could be eaten, and highly aggressive cichlids that will harass a peaceful bottom-dweller.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232805273891,"sku":null,"price":42.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232805306659,"sku":"BA9237","price":52.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232805339427,"sku":null,"price":62.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-18cm)","offer_id":55351965778211,"sku":null,"price":72.49,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Brown_Spotted_Hoplo_e7725572-7905-4bd7-8ade-c78411396671.jpg?v=1781701116","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/brown-spotted-hoplo-megalechis-thoracata","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}