▷ Callous Catfish | Megalechis thoracata | All information and details

Data sheet callous catfish

German name:
callous catfish

Scientific name:
Megalechis thoracatum

Origin:
South America

Size:
Body length up to 15 cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 100 cm width

Contents:
from 240 liters

water values

Temperature:
19°-28° C

pH:
5.5-8

GH:
2° – 25° dH

Behave

Area:
lower area

Lining:
Omnivores such as detritus, insect larvae, tubifex and small fish, frozen food, dry food, food tablets

Behave:
quiet, peaceful, sociable

Number:
at least in pairs, better as a group with at least 5 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Danny Steaven, Hoplosternum-thoracatum-001, CC BY-SA 3.0

Callous catfish all get quite large. All species grow to over 10 centimeters.

Based on the distribution area and the water conditions there, it is clear that callous catfish are resilient fish. Due to intestinal respiration, callous catfish can also survive in turbid pools without oxygen. They are also not sensitive to nitrite and nitrate. That doesn’t mean they aren’t still more comfortable in clean water, though. Calloused catfish need soft water and a pH of around 7.

Calloused catfish eat until they burst. A 15 centimeter calloused catfish, for example, can wipe away a cube of red mosquito larvae with one gulp. Other fish only get a few crumbs from the food tablets, the catfish eat the rest. The catfish often get misshapen pot bellies.

Calloused catfish breathe on the surface of the water and sometimes splash heavily with water. In open aquariums, puddles of water must therefore be expected around the aquarium.

Calloused catfish usually look calm and relaxed. But if they want, they can be very, very fast.

General information about painted catfish

Callous catfish (Megalechis thoracata) Photo: Manuela Thelen

Painted catfish, Megalechis thoracata, are also known as fawn catfish. They must be kept in pairs, never individually. I nicknamed them “gentle giants” because, despite their impressive size, they are incredibly peaceful. They can be kept in any community tank, because they show no aggressive behavior. However, I also have “only” three males. I can imagine that they defend their territory in the burp care (build a foam nest, similar to fighting fish).

It is just very important to me that these animals are not kept alone, because they always lie together as a group and as such usually swim around. Sometimes it looks incredibly impressive, like a squadron of planes in the air that flies their line adequately, so they swim through the aquarium.

In addition, they recognize their provider very well and become tame in the truest sense of the word. My catfish feed off my fingertip, but as soon as someone else stands next to me, even if it’s one of the kids they already know, they stand still and watch closely. You are very smart!

Diana

Catfish Photo: Diana

Painted catfish are at least 20 centimeters tall. They are very peaceful. However, they are not particularly considerate either. Anyone who gets in the way is simply swum around.

They don’t swerve when they want to swim along somewhere.

Even if another fish is in the way They also like to rearrange the tank and level the bottom, for example.

Catfish Photo: Diana

In males, the first ray of the pectoral fin is greatly widened and colored reddish brown. In some editions of Mergus, this trait is erroneously attributed to females. At 6 to 7 centimeters in size, the animals become sexually mature.

During courtship or just before spawning, one animal swims close in front of the other, clamps its fins and makes trembling movements. During courtship, the animals become territorial. That means, even in small aquariums, that other fish are only scared away. Neither conspecifics nor fish of other species are injured. It is only pushed and defended with tail slaps. Hands, plant tongs and water change hoses are also sold in this way. If you still don’t go away, you will be sprayed vigorously.

General information about spotted catfish

Dotted callous catfish grow to a size of 10 to 15 centimetres.