Spotted Hoplo Catfish
Megalechis thoracata
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 173 litres
- Temperature
- 18–28 °C
Species profile
Salween Rock Catfish
Hara filamentosa
Common names: Salween Rock Catfish
Recognized speciesCatfish
Adult size
Up to 4 cm
Up to 4 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A small, well-kept nano tank
Think carefully if
- You cannot keep up with regular water changes
A tiny, rough-skinned catfish from Myanmar and Thailand, with long filaments on its fins. Keep alone or in a small group in 40 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
A tiny, rough-skinned catfish from Myanmar and Thailand, with long filaments on its fins. It prefers cooler, flowing water and sits among rocks.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Sexes can be hard to tell apart, although females are often rounder.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 160–200 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 50–75 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 40 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 45 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide caves, wood and shade, because many catfish are active mostly at night.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Usually most active at dusk and after dark, and it hides during the day.
Social needs vary, so see the notes for this species.
Can defend a favourite hiding place.
Check adult size before choosing tankmates, because a catfish may eat anything that fits in its mouth at night. It may eat baby shrimp.
Water Parameters
Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings. Keep the temperature steady. This fish prefers cooler water than most tropical fish, and it may not need a heater in a warm room.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Sinking pellets or wafersFeed after lights-out if faster fish take everything first.
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimpOffer several times a week.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette or cucumber add variety for fish that graze.
Feed sinking foods, ideally after lights-out, so that it gets its share.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Little has been recorded about breeding this fish in aquariums.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Myanmar, Southeast Asia, Thailand
- Natural habitat
- Rocky Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Nano Aquarium, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Hara
- Family
- Sisoridae
- Species group
- Catfish, Fish, Other Catfish
- Previous scientific names
- Erethistes filamentosus, Name also used in the hobby.
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Striped Raphael Catfish
Platydoras armatulus
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 24 cm
- Minimum tank
- 108 litres
- Temperature
- 24–30 °C
Sun Catfish
Horabagrus brachysoma
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 45 cm
- Minimum tank
- 648 litres
- Temperature
- 23–25 °C
Tiger Shovelnose Catfish
Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum
- Care level
- Specialist
- Adult size
- 104 cm
- Minimum tank
- 10368 litres
- Temperature
- 22–26 °C