Spotted Hoplo

About

The spotted hoplo (Megalechis thoracata) is a solidly built armored catfish from South America, native to the Amazon, Orinoco, and upper Paraguay River basins, as well as the coastal rivers of the Guianas and northern Brazil. One of its most remarkable traits is obligate air breathing. It gulps atmospheric air at the surface and absorbs oxygen through its intestine, an adaptation that lets it survive in low-oxygen waters that would spell trouble for most fish. You'll often see this behavior even in a well-maintained aquarium, so don't mistake those surface trips for a problem. In terms of temperament, spotted hoplos are peaceful community fish that generally get along with a wide range of tankmates, from small tetras and barbs to larger, more assertive species like Central American cichlids. Though they can be a bit boisterous at times, so very small or delicate fish deserve some caution. They're a reasonably forgiving choice for a keeper who has some experience under their belt. Breeding is genuinely interesting: males construct bubble nests and guard the eggs through hatching, and a cooler water change often does the trick to encourage reluctant pairs. The species still circulates under its old name, Hoplosternum thoracatum, in much of the hobby trade.