Remarks:  Any who enjoy dwarf species of Corydoradinae will absolutely love the Norhora’s Hoplisoma. These rare catfish are almost never seen in the hobby which is a shame as they have a very attractive pattern and rarely exceed 1.5” in length making them a fantastic alternative to the more common pygmy Gastrodermus and dwarf spotted Hoplisoma. When mature and in the right conditions, Norhora’s hoplisoma display an almost translucent body with a white or light silver color dotted with black spots. The first few rays of their dorsal fin and the mask marking over its eyes are black. Finishing off this gorgeous dwarf catfish is a yellow or gold head that can develop in mature males.

  What makes the Norhora’s Hoplisoma especially unique is its odd behaviors. Instead of the typical spawning on flat surfaces, keepers have noted this species will lay their eggs in the sand likely to better hide them from predators. Another interesting behavior the Norhora’s Hoplisoma engages in is that when moving short distances, they seem to “hop” across the substrate using their pectoral and pelvic fins. This is very entertaining to watch and make an already wonderful species all the more fun to keep.

  Norhora's Hoplisomas were previously classified as Corydoras sp. (Cw104), but were reclassified as Hoplisoma sp. (Cw104) 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.