Myer's Hoplo Catfish

Lepthoplosternum pectorale is a somewhat understated member of the Callichthyidae, native to the drainage systems of Paraguay, Bolivia, and northern Argentina — the extensive seasonally flooded Gran Chaco plain. Compared to Hoplosternum and Megalechis, it is a more slender, less heavily armored species with a subtly mottled brown pattern and a more reserved demeanor.

This species shares the family's characteristic intestinal air-breathing ability and can tolerate the warm summer floods and cooler dry-season conditions of its subtropical habitat. In the aquarium it is undemanding and adaptable, eating most sinking foods and tolerating a fairly wide temperature range. It rarely ventures far from the substrate, spending its time sifting sand and investigating plant roots.

Lepthoplosternum pectorale is an excellent choice for a subtropical South American community tank alongside species such as Buenos Aires tetras, Corydoras paleatus, or flag cichlids. It is peaceful, hardy, and interesting to observe during its nocturnal foraging activities.