Remarks: The peppered or salt and pepper Hoplisoma is almost as common, or is as common as the green Osteogaster in the fishkeeping hobby. They have silver or tan bodies mottled with gray and black blotches and a metallic blue-green sheen. This species has been bred in captivity for a very long time resulting in a very hardy fish that handles a wide range of water parameters, though it does fare best when kept in cooler water. Captive breeding has also resulted in there being interesting mutations such as albinism and long-finned variants. An interesting thing to note about the peppered Hoplisoma is that they were first discovered back in the 1830s by no other than Charles Darwin during his expedition in Buenos Aires aboard the Beagle. 

  It was previously classified as Corydoras paleatus, but was reclassified as Hoplisoma paleatus upon publication of a phylogenomic analysis in 2024 that reclassified many species in the Corydoradinae subfamily.

  Corydoradinae are small, peaceful catfish that are active shoalers and will stay near conspecifics, making for a lovely sight. They feed by searching through sand with their barbels, making such a substrate necessary for their long-term health. Gravel substrates tend to be abrasive and damage the barbels, leading to infections and an inability to find food.

  While these friendly catfish are willing to swim with other species of Corydoradinae different from their own, this does not provide the same social need as being kept with members of their own species. Because of this, it is highly recommended to keep at least six of each species of Corydoradinae present in the aquarium and only mix species if one has the space to keep at least six of each.

  Corydoradinae are often looked at as "scavengers," but they should be treated in a similar fashion as the rest of your fish. They are omnivores and require a mixed diet. Sinking prepared foods are readily accepted, as are frozen and live foods such as brine shrimp, blackworms, and bloodworms.