Callus catfish - Megalechis thoracata (Hoplosternum thoracatum) 5cm

The Painted Callus Catfish or Fawn Callus Catfish (Hoplosternum thoracatum or Megalechis thoracata) from South America belongs to the armored catfish family. This beautiful callus catfish is typically shaped: with a flat belly and a practically perfect triangular cross-section of the body. On the flanks you can see the overlapping bony shields very well, which gave it the name Callus Catfish. They even look a bit like fish bones. The basic color of the Painted or Fawn Callus Catfish is quite variable, ranging from almost black to fawn to gray-green or brownish-beige. The animals have many dark spots on the whole body as well as on all fins and strikingly dark colored, very long barbels on the underslung mouth. The fins themselves are more or less transparent. The leading edge of the pectoral fins is more intensely colored. Males have a large reddish spine on the pectoral fin, which is absent in females.

In its native habitat, the bottom-dwelling Hoplosternum thoracatum lives in calm, sometimes muddy waters such as pools and the shallow water zones of slow flowing streams. It occurs in clear water as well as black water. It can also be found in low oxygen environments.

Very peaceful during most of the time, the Painted Callus Catfish grows up to 20 cm long and about 12 years old, if kept species-appropriate. Since this is a schooling fish, the aquarium should be at least 150 cm long for a group of 5. Please never keep this social group animal alone. During the breeding season, aggression can occur between the males, which sometimes intensively defend their nests against other fish and also against conspecifics. Well suited for socialization are livebearers like guppies, platies or mollies, or also more surface-oriented tetras. Since the large callus catfish also eat crustaceans, they should not be socialized with shrimp. They occupy the same habitat as crayfish, so conflicts and injuries can occur here as well. Therefore, we do not recommend socialization with dwarf shrimp and crayfish.

The male Painted Callus Catfish builds a foam nest between floating plants or plant leaves during the spawning season, which he defends vehemently. When mating, the female lays the up to 800 eggs directly into the floating nest, where the male fertilizes them. The fry hatch after 3 to 4 days and are then immediately independent. They are raised on somewhat larger live foods such as daphnia, grindal and artemia. The young callus catfish grow up very fast.

Regarding the water values the Fawn Callus Catfish is not picky: soft to medium hard water, an aquarium temperature of 18-28 °C and a pH value of 5,5 to 7,5 are super. The substrate should be rounded gravel or sand to keep the delicate whiskers intact.

Sufficiently large catfish burrows and a varied furnishing with roots and stones are a must. More hiding places should always be offered than fish that need a hiding place. As an intestinal breather, the Painted Callus Catfish always needs free access to the water surface! Since the catfish jump, the aquarium must be tightly covered. The large fish have a high basal metabolic rate, so the filter should be sufficiently large. We recommend a powerful external filter for an aquarium with a group of Callus Catfish.

Hoplosternum thoracatum is not an exclusive herbivore, but an omnivore, but it cannot be excluded that it gnaws soft-leaved plants. Besides detritus, it also eats live food and frozen food, which may be somewhat larger.

Our food recommendation: The NatureHolic Catfish Feed for all aufwuchs feeding sucking catfish in the aquarium is a balanced tablet food, which does not cloud the water and the fish like to eat. The catfish tablets also contain NatureHolic active ingredient complexes that provide sucking catfish with everything they need for a strong immune system, healthy growth and great, contrasting coloration.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.