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imilar to Hoplisoma armatum, but this species is higher bodied. There is also a variety with an eye mask which may be the juvenile pattern of Corydoras loretoensis (now Hoplisoma loretoense) with this trait disappearing as they grow into adulthood.

Hoplisoma loretoense

At first glance in your LFS you would be challenged to think of a more unspectacular looking cory, but believe me when you get them home and settled in your aquarium you will be surprised at the beauty of this little catfish. Of course not a looker in the sense of colouration, but the high dorsal with the black edging and the black spots on the grey body coupled with its gregarious behavior will make it a firm favourite in your fish room/hut. I picked mine up at an auction and wondered why I had bid for them, but I am very glad that I did as I had not kept this Corydoras/Hoplisoma in over 30 years of fishkeeping and it sparked a bit of exhilaration in my Fishhouse.

Hoplisoma loretoense - head view

The head view image above shows the unusually large eyes which are situated high on the head. The snout is very short and angular.

Conclusion: This is a very social Hoplisoma and one that you should consider if you have not kept this species before.

Loreto Cory

Corydoras loretoensis

Corydoradinae

South America: Peru, Loreto Province, Rio Nanay. Type locality: Xeberos and Huallaga, Peru.

4.5cm (1¾ins) Male; 5.0cm (2ins) Female.

23-26°C (73-79°F)

Head short and blunt. Eyes large which are situated high on the head. Dorsal fin elongated.

This is akin to most of this genus, very peaceful, and would be best housed with small to medium sized tankmates such as Tetras, Rasboras and Danios or in a species tank for breeding purposes. Best to purchase 6 individuals or more as they will be happier in a group.

As per Corydoras/Hoplisoma 'T' mating fashion but not one of the easiest members of this genera to spawn but once you have been successful they should spawn at regular intervals. Will lay their eggs in Java moss, spawning mops or the corners of the tank glass. There have been reports (Fuller 2013) of this species laying eggs in the sand substrate.

Readily accepts a mixed and varied diet which includes granular foods, tablet food, frozen bloodworm and a good quality flake.

Hoplisoma: hóplon, shield or armor; soma, body, referring to bony plates on sides.
loretoense: From Loreto, a department in Peru where this Corydoras species was found.

Alexandrou, Markos & Taylor, Martin (2011). Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.
Angelica C Dias, Luiz F C Tencatt, Fabio F Roxo, Gabriel de Souza da Costa Silva, Sérgio A Santos, Marcelo R Britto, Martin I Taylor, Claudio Oliveira, Phylogenomic analyses in the complex Neotropical subfamily Corydoradinae (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) with a new classification based on morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2024;, zlae053.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Fuller, I.A.M. & Evers, H-G: 2005 Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish 384 p.

Photo Credits

© Allan James @