Porthole Catfish

The Hoplo Catfish is a peaceful and easy-to-keep beauty for your Amazon community aquarium. A row of dark spots run along this unique catfishs lateral line, resembling portholes on a ship.

Their bodies are sleek, featuring long-sloping heads with pronounced barbels protruding from their mouths. Originating in the inland waters of the Amazon River basin in Brazil and Peru, the Hoplo Catfish is mainly found in slow moving creeks, tributaries, floodplain lakes, and ponds.

Therefore, they prefer well-planted aquariums with driftwood and plenty of cover. Sandy or fine round substrate is ideal. This peaceful bottom-dweller makes a great tank mate for fellow Amazonian community fish including tetras, peaceful cichlids, corydoras, and others.

The Hoplo Catfish is preferably kept in shoals of 3-6 to truly appreciate their natural behaviour. Males can be differentiated from females by slightly thicker rays of the pectoral fins. Mature females are often rounder in body than males as well.

Offer a variety of foods, including sinking pellets and small freeze-dried and frozen foods such as bloodworms and brine shrimp.