Catfish of the Month Right April 1998

Hoplisoma atropersonatum
Fairy Catfish, Panzerwels (Germany) - Hoplisoma atropersonatum   (Weitzman & Nijssen, 1970)

Article © Julian Dignall, uploaded April 01, 1998.

There is sometimes debate over the true identity of the fish pictured here, C. atropersonatus because it is similar to C. sychri. However it has a rounded snout and larger eyes. These features are present in the fish above, but there is no colouration at all in the dorsal fin which would indicate that the fish is C. sychri. C. atropersonatus should have four or five black spots in its dorsal fin. Because of the snout, the most obvious difference, we have labelled the fish accordingly.


Copyright information for the images used in this article can be found on the species' full Cat-eLog page.

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Hoplisoma atropersonatum  (Weitzman & Nijssen, 1970)
Common Names Fairy Catfish
Panzerwels (Germany)
Type Locality Río Conambo at mouth of River Shione, Río Tigre system, about 2°00'S, 76°30'W, Pastaza State, Ecuador.
Synonym(s) Corydoras atropersonatus
Pronunciation hop lee so mah - at row person ATT uss
Etymology Latin ater = black, personatus = masked.
Articles
Down Species Information
Size 45mm or 1.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Corydoras atropersonatus is similar in colour pattern to C. sychri. C. sychri is a larger fish, has a pointed snout and has more, finer spots.
Sexing Female is fuller (when viewed from above) and larger.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Upper Amazon River basin.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Tigre (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Tigre, Upper Tigre, Conambo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Nanay (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Not Evaluated
pH 5.6 - 7.0
Temperature 21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Sinking catfish pellets and bloodworm. User data.
Furniture Needs a rounded substrate or sand. This species is prone to barbel loss at the hands of inept water management / inappropriate substrate.
Compatibility Peaceful, keep in groups of 6 or more.
Suggested Tankmates Most small community fish. Tetras are ideal.
Breeding Breeding tank size = 450 x 200 x 150mm. Water Temp. =76 deg F. Ph =7.2 GH = 6 spawning. Followed the typical ''T'' formation two days after a water change which reduced the temp. by 6deg F. A total of 80 1,5mm diameter eggs were laid between three and five at a time. The eggs were all deposited on the tank sides. The adults were removed when they were observed eating more eggs than they were laying. Once the adults were removed a 50% dose of anti fungal solution was added to prevent infertile eggs from contaminating the fertile ones. 60% of the eggs proved fertile and the fry started to emerge on the fourth day after the eggs were laid, and in a further two days the fry were free swimming and were given their first feeding which consisted of pre-soaked powdered flake food followed by freshly hatched brine shrimp the following day. The fry grew at the following rates. At 7 days = 4mm. At 14 days = 6,3mm. At 1 month = 8,5mm. At 2 months = 13mm Adult colouration was reached in 10 weeks, and in 3months they were 21mm long. 49 fry reached adulthood.
Breeding Reports There are 2 breeding reports, read them all here.
Down Further Information
Reference Beaufortia v. 18 (no. 233), pp 123, Figs. 2, 6b.
Registered Keepers There are 73 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There are 10 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 34 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2024 Oct 04 12:14 (species record created: 1998 Apr 01 11:22)

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