Plated catfish from the genus Hoplosternum are known in the hobby mainly from relatively large growing species, which can reach 15 to 20 cm in length. However, there also exist small species, like H. punctatum, which hardly grows larger than 7 cm. The natural distribution of this species is in Panama and in the rivers of Colombia flowing in the Pacific Ocean. No commercial exports of ornamental fish come from that part of the World. All specimens in the trade are therefore bred ones. Sadly the breeders usually offer their fish under the name Dianema longibarbis, which is a completely different species from Amazonia.
Hoplosternum punctatum is a rather day-active and social species which often swims free in the water column. Males and females can easily distinguished from each other by the much larger and thicker pectoral spine in males. Moreover, if one looks at the belly of the fish, the bony plates that cover the breast touch each other in males, whereas in females they leave open a broad gap.
Plated catfish are known to be bubblenest builders and that the males aggressively guard their nests. Sadly no details regarding the breeding behaviour of H. punctatum are published yet.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
| Angaben zum Tier | |
|---|---|
| Herkunft | Nachzucht / bred |
| Verfügbare Größe in cm | 6-7 |
