Candy Striped Pleco is a dwarf Pleco native to the Amazon River in South America. They are often confused with other types of plecos with similar appearance, such as Clown Plecos. This fish features a beige to dark brown base color with cream-colored stripes. This species eats algae on wood and hardscape features but won’t …
Candy Striped Pleco (Peckoltia vittata): Ultimate Care Guide Read More »
Clown Plecos (Panaque Maccus) are a great addition to any aquarium for both novice and expert fish-keepers alike. Provided they are kept in the right conditions they are quite unproblematic to look after, and even better, they provide a nice aesthetic touch to your tank. Furthermore, they are fun to watch as they snack on driftwood at the bottom of the tank, and are also an amicable tank mate for many other species.
The Rubber Lip Pleco (Chaetostoma milesi) is a freshwater fish native to South America. It is part of the largest family of armored suckermouth catfish, the Chaetostoma genus. Rubber Lip Plecos have a large sucker mouth, eyes near the top of their head, and a tapering body. They typically have grey colored body, but it can have tan coloration as well. They have spots on their face, which can resemble freckles. These spots can also extend down their body. On the lower half of their body, they can have striped pattern as well. Rubber Lip Plecos are one of the smaller species of Plecos, since they only reach 5-7 inches (13-18 cm) in size. In comparison, other species of Plecos are known to grow much larger.
Sultan Plecos (Leporacanthicus joselimai, L264) have greyish cream colored bodies with black spots. They have powerful sucker mouths that they use to hold onto surfaces. Males and females are much easier to determine from one another when they have reached maturity. The males tend to have larger and broader heads, larger dorsal fins, and brighter coloration. You will want to make sure that you have correctly identified your Pleco so that you are able to provide the correct care for them. Juveniles will have white tips on their dorsal fins and tail fins that will fade as they age.
The Snowball Pleco (Hypicanistrus Inspector, L102) is an armoured suckermouth catfish part of the Loricariidae family. Its gorgeous white polka dot pattern gives the fish the appearance of being covered in little snowballs, hence its distinctive name. Some Snowball Pleco sport yellow spots as well, adding to the species’ beauty. Comparing the male and females, the former will sometimes show a reddish tint to their armour and more prominent odontodes, which resemble little teeth on their fins. These plecos have the characteristic flattened belly, downturned mouth, and torpedo outline of other catfish, with splayed pectoral and pelvic fins.
Leopard Frog Plecos (Peckoltia compta) have dark colored bodies with yellow stripes that goes along their entire body. As the fish mature, the bright yellow stripes on their body tends to turn into the darker hue. As they mature, the stripe pattern tend to turn into spots as well. Regardless of their pattern formation, a healthy fish should have a vibrant coloration. Fish that appear washed out could indicate that they are stressed or is unhealthy. They have small compact bodies and long fins that are partially translucent at the ends.
Sailfin Pleco may seem appealing for many aquarists, regardless of skill level. Their unique pattern makes them a popular choice. When considering the addition of a fish to a tank, or a first-time purchase of a fish and a tank, one must always consider the ease of raising their preferred species. The size of a fully-grown Sailfin Pleco is the biggest hurdle one must cross when owning one.
Butterfly Plecostomus (L168) is one of the smaller species of pleco with a striking pattern. It has the unique ability to camouflage based on their surroundings. When placed on a light colored substrate, they will display a bright pattern. When placed on a dark colored substrate or low light environment, they will display a much …
