They also have bright red eyes that really stand out. Royal plecos are herbivores that will eat algae in the aquarium, but their large size makes them impractical for many fish keepers.
This species is aptly named. Their base color is a dark olive green to brown and they are absolutely covered in bright orange spots. This species is kept more for their brilliant coloration than their ability to eat algae. In the wild, most plecos are nocturnal fish that spend the daylight hours hiding under sunken logs or in small caves and crevices.
They are also very territorial. They will fight off other plecos that come near their feeding grounds and especially their hiding spots. They will usually bully and harass each other until one becomes completely stressed out and dies. Pro Tip: For tips on dealing with pesky aquarium algae, see our article on algae types. Add Comment. Post Comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Here are 10 types of plecos you should be aware of and what type of aquarium they require. Table of Contents 1. The Blue Panaque prefers soft and acidic water since they come from blackwater environments. What I find weird about these fish is that they get picky about vegetables. Angelicus Pleco — Hypancistrus sp. L by cviles Maximum Body Size: 3. The substrate in the tank should not be anything sharp, and preferably sand. Anyway, they enjoy a vegetarian diet, accepting the occasional animal protein.
The live plants in a planted tank will not be eaten. Queen Arabesque Pleco — Hypancistrus sp. L by Redkite Maximum Body Size: 3. Clown Pleco — Panaqolus sp. The Clown Pleco L feeds on wood and vegetables and does not need animal protein in its diet. The tangles and branches will be eaten with time and need occasional replacement. Also, because of the wood in their diet, Clown Plecos will produce huge amounts of sawdust poop. This beautiful pleco prefers aquariums that simulate their natural biotope.
There should be a lot of caves in between the rocks where the fish will spend their time. Another water parameter that should be strictly maintained is the rather high temperature. Aside from that, Zebra Plecos are not picky about other water parameters. This species is also predominantly carnivorous and vegetables will rarely be taken by the fish. Another important water parameter for this pleco species is temperature. Are there even smaller pleco fish?
Sharing is caring! Maximum Body Size:. Minimum Tank Size:. Suggested Water Temperature:. Key Traits:. Very peaceful; may bury itself in the substrate; will eat algae and biofilm.
Suitable for Beginners:. Yes, as long as the beginner is familiar with the basics of fish keeping. Unique-looking tentacles on its mouth; eats a lot and makes more mess; relatively peaceful; prefers well-oxygenated water. Is mostly carnivore; will actively scavenge the bottom at night; ideal for a small planted tank thanks to its diet; peaceful. Not for complete beginners, but aquarists with general knowledge in the hobby can manage it. Very rewarding to keep; territorial and aggressive against its kind; active; impressive looks; diverse menu leaning to the herbivorous side.
No, this fish is delicate and it could perish even with seemingly perfect acclimatization. May become aggressive towards other Hypancistrus species; prefers meat as a staple diet; likes moving water with high oxygen levels.
Yes, as long as the aquarist is ready to provide the needed conditions and stays on top of water maintenance. Others feed almost exclusively on wood, so it is best to research the dietary needs of any species you buy.
Because of their nocturnal habits, many experienced hobbyists target feed their plecos once or twice a week with tablet or disc foods given at night. For best results, feed a variety of high-quality foods and rotate your fishes' diet daily. While not much is known about the spawning behavior of many rarer species, a fair number of suckermouth catfish have been bred in captivity. They typically spawn in caves, with the male caring for the eggs until they hatch.
Fry, or recently hatched fish, are voracious and must be fed frequently on a high protein diet such as micro worms, brine shrimp nauplii, sinking tablets or disc-type foods. For intentional spawning, a separate aquarium should be set up and breeders should be fed live or frozen foods for several weeks to condition them. The Armored Suckermouths Plecostomus, or "plecos" as they are often called, belong to the Family Loricariidae, which is the largest family of catfish in the world.
Plecostomus Water Requirements Loricariid catfish are typically found in soft water with a low pH in the wild, however, many species sold today are commercially raised and tolerate a much wider range of water chemistry.
Males and females do not have any distinguishing characteristics. They are part of the Ancistrus genus, but they can be difficult to distinguish from other members of the genus. Bristlenose Plecos are fairly popular among fishkeepers because of their smaller size. They grow to be about 4 inches, so they can be kept in smaller aquariums in comparison to other types of plecos.
There, their typical homes consist of plants, rocks, and a moderate water flow. Sunshine Pleco. In the fishkeeping hobby, they are also commonly referred to as Golden Plecos. Sunshine Plecos are a very popular species amongst fishkeepers. Male Sunshine Plecos can be distinguished from females because they are larger in size and contain a more bristled body that reflects light more.
They can be found in slow moving river basins all throughout South America. Blue Eyed Pleco. This catfish is a member of the Panaque genus. Fish from this genus can be easily identified as they have distinctive, spoon-shaped teeth. Although, just like most other plecos, there are no characteristics that help identify males from females.
They reside in water basins throughout Columbia, South America.
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