Hoplisoma cruziense · Santa Cruz Cory

Overview

Hoplisoma cruziense is a peaceful social armored catfish from Bolivia's Madeira drainage. Its dark body markings are reportedly large and can merge into an irregular lateral stripe, but identification remains insufficiently resolved for that pattern alone to establish identity.

Distribution & habitat

The range appears confined to the Bolivian Madeira basin, possibly including the Mamoré and Beni tributaries. Its precise limits remain unclear. Guarayos in Santa Cruz Department is the type locality.

Aquarium setup

Fine sand is the preferred flooring. Rounded gravel is suitable only with close attention to cleanliness. Furnishings may otherwise follow personal taste, with enough cover for the group to rest securely.

Diet & feeding

Related cory catfishes are broadly foraging omnivores. Common captive foods include sinking preparations and small live or frozen bloodworms and aquatic worms.

Feed varied meals directly to the catfish. Neither scraps from tankmates nor a supposed cleaning role can substitute for proper nutrition and substrate maintenance.

Behaviour & compatibility

Its peaceful, social disposition calls for at least four to six conspecifics.

Sexual dimorphism

Females generally grow larger and develop a rounder, deeper body at maturity.

Notes

Compared with Corydoras punctatus, the species is said to have larger dark body markings, sometimes joining into an uneven midlateral stripe. This qualified comparison is not a complete diagnostic test.

Formerly named Corydoras cruziensis, it transferred to Hoplisoma during the 2024 generic division. Related armored catfishes have body plates and supplementary air-breathing ability, so occasional trips to the surface are common. Their pectoral spines can puncture skin, and mildly toxic secretions near the spine bases are suspected; careful handling is advisable.