盔兵鲶

Overview

Hoplisoma armatum is a peaceful, social cory-type catfish with a relatively deep body and a long, slightly curved dorsal spine. Similar aquarium fish from different river systems retain identification questions, making locality information valuable.

Distribution & habitat

Its type localities lie in Peru's Huallaga watershed, to which it may be restricted. Fish from the upper Madeira in Brazil and Bolivia have also been assigned to it, although the considerable separation between these regions warrants further examination.

Aquarium setup

Fine sand is the preferred base. Smooth rounded gravel can be used if maintained carefully. Add cover for security while keeping feeding areas accessible and preventing waste accumulation.

Diet & feeding

Provide an omnivorous assortment of sinking dry foods and small live or frozen items such as bloodworms and Tubifex. Deliberate feeding is essential. Neither scraps from other fishes nor the expectation of a clean substrate constitutes an adequate maintenance plan.

Behaviour & compatibility

Keep at least four to six conspecifics together. Its calm, gregarious behavior suits group maintenance, with companions managed so that the catfish can obtain food without persistent interference.

Sexual dimorphism

Females usually grow larger. Mature females are broader and rounder, especially when carrying eggs.

Notes

Some upper Madeira fish have circulated under the trade labels dorsalis and ogawae. Those labels do not establish separate valid species, nor do they resolve the uncertainty surrounding distant populations. Body depth and dorsal-spine shape provide useful comparative clues.

Rows of bony plates protect the body. Occasional surface visits provide auxiliary air breathing. Stiff pectoral spines may snag nets or puncture skin, so transfers require care. Suggested mild toxicity of secretions around the spine bases remains uncertain.