| Common Name(s) | Sultan Pleco |
| Scientific Name | Leporacanthicus joselimai, L264 |
| Origin | Rio Tapajos, Brazil |
| Temperature | 77-81°F (25-27°C) |
| Size | 6 inches |
| Minimum Tank Size | 55 gallons |
| Food & Diet | Omnivorous |
| Lifespan | 5 to 8 years |
| Water pH | 6.0-7.5 |
| Tank Mates | Other peaceful fish that enjoy strong currents and similar water parameters. |
| Breeding | Cave breeder |
| Disease | May be susceptible to ich, dropsy, fin rot, and pop-eye. |
Sultan Pleco Facts
- Sultan Pleco fish have powerful sucker mouths that help them hold onto surfaces.
- The growth rate of the Sultan Pleco is largely dependent on the diet that it receives, and the aquarium setup that it is in.
- Sultan Plecos are a peaceful fish, and they are ideal tank mates to add to your tank. They are territorial towards their own species, and if you are planning on housing several Sultan Plecos together then you will want to make sure that you have provided enough space for them to claim their own territory.
- Sultan Pleco males care for the eggs and fry until they are able to be cared for on their own, the females do not provide any parental care for their eggs or fry.
Sultan Pleco Care
Sultan Plecos (Leporacanthicus joselimai, L264) is a pleco type with greyish cream colored bodies and 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.
Food & Diet
Sultan Plecos are an omnivorous fish species that are best described as scavengers. Though they are omnivorous, they are not the fish you would pick if you were looking for an algae eating fish. They have strong sucker mouths that help them hold onto surfaces. In the wild they will scavenge the bottom for food. In captivity they will readily accept a diet of protein rich live, dry, and frozen foods as well as green vegetables such as peas, spinach, and cucumbers. It is said that when they are juveniles they will want and eat more plant matter, but as they mature they will want more meaty foods in their diet.
Tank Requirements
Sultan Plecos require a minimum of a 55 gallon tank. Since they are a peaceful bottom dwelling fish, they will do well in a tank with others as long as it is not too crowded with other bottom dwelling fish. They require a temperature of 77F to 81F, and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.
When setting up a tank for Sultan Plecos, keep in mind that they enjoy strong water movement. You will want to add in powerful aquarium filters, and even consider wave making pumps for their tank.
Placing rocks and cave-like structures for them to cling to will make them feel comfortable. Even though they are mostly nocturnal fish, in the proper set up aquarium, you will begin to see them coming out during the daytime, clinging to rocks and in crevices.
It is important that their water is clean and highly oxygenated. Sultan Plecos produce a lot of waste, and you will also want to make sure that you are performing regular water changes so that their water parameters do not get out of balance. Sultan Plecos like other plecos are sensitive to water changes. Sultan Pleco will not eat any plants that you have in your aquarium, so feel free to add in ones that you want to.
Tank Mates
Sultan Plecos are peaceful fish that will not bother any of your other fish in your aquarium. They are bottom dwelling fish that will stay out of the way of other fish, unless you have a tank that is overcrowded by other bottom dwelling fish.
Good tank mates for Sultan Pleco would be other peaceful fish that will not bother them. You will also need to choose other fish that have the same water parameters and like the same strong current as the Sultan Pleco. Cichlids are a good choice for tank mates. Sultan Plecos can be territorial of their own species, so you will want to make sure if you are planning on housing several Sultan Plecos together that you have enough room.
Growth Rate
It is important for Sultan Pleco growth that they are not only fed an appropriate diet, but also that they are getting enough food. Feeding them correctly is essential for their growth. If they are not kept in the appropriate size aquarium, they will not grow to their full size either. There is not an exact measurement by time for the growth of the Sultan Pleco, but to ensure that it grows to its maximum size, be sure to give it a good diet, tank setup, and water conditions.
Sultan Pleco Max Size & Lifespan
Sultan Plecos can live from 5 to 8 years when cared for properly, and can reach a max size of about 6 inches in length.
What is the Minimum Tank Size for a Sultan Pleco?
The Sultan Pleco requires a minimum of a 55 gallon tank. A good tank for a bottom dwelling fish like the Sultan Pleco is one that is longer opposed to tall as they are bottom dwelling fish. If you are planning on keeping several Sultan Plecos together, you will want to make sure that there is enough space for them to claim territories.
Breeding Sultan Pleco
In the wild, Sultan Plecos are believed to be cave breeders, and use the caves to nest in. The male Sultan Pleco cares for the eggs, while the female shares no part in their parental care aside from the egg laying. Male Sultan Pleco fish will attract the female in to lay her eggs. Once the eggs are laid, then the male will fertilize them. The male fish will guard the eggs until they are able to fend for themselves. The Sultan Plecos that are available online are wild caught, as there is not a lot known about breeding them in captivity.
How Often Do Sultan Pleco Breed?
Sultan Plecos like most other Plecos will spawn often in the wild. If you are wanting to try breeding Sultan Plecos, then you will want to set up a dedicated breeding tank, and be prepared for many offspring. Plecos will spawn anywhere from 150 to 200 eggs at a time.
Sultan Pleco Eggs
Sultan Plecos will lay eggs in the nest or cave of the male, and they will be in a cluster. You will be able to see them grouped together. The female will lay anywhere from 150 to 200 eggs at a time. Once the female has laid her eggs, she is done with the spawning process, and she offers no parental care for her eggs or fry. It is the male that cares for the eggs and fry until they are able to care for themselves.
Sultan Pleco Diseases
Sultan Plecos are susceptible to the same ailments that other Plecos are. It is important to monitor their water parameters for changes. Large water changes will cause problems for health and longevity. Sultan Plecos can be affected by a few issues such as:
Ich
Ich is a common parasitic disease that can affect freshwater fish. Ich shows up on your fish in the form of white spots. If it is caught early on, you can treat your fish before it becomes deadly.
Dropsy
Dropsy is a bacterial disease. If you suspect dropsy, you should monitor your fish for bloating and loss of coloration. Dropsy is often caused by malnutrition, and you should do regular water changes, and feed your fish the appropriate diet to help clear up this condition. There is also medication that you can purchase online or in a pet store that can help clear this up as well.
Fin Rot
Fin Rot is a bacterial disease that can affect freshwater fish. Poor water quality is usually the cause of this ailment. It is important to do regular water changes for the health of your aquarium. If you suspect Fin Rot, you should monitor your fish for lethargy and loss of appetite. Fin Rot can be treated with tetracycline.
Pop-eye
Pop-eye is a condition that looks exactly as its name suggests. The eyes of the fish will be protruding. If this is caught early enough, it can be treated with tetracycline like fin rot. Unlike Fin Rot, there isn’t really an exact reason that it appears.
When it comes to fish ailments, you will want to make sure that you are doing all you can to prevent issues before they occur. You will want to make sure that you are purchasing our fish from a reputable source online, or a well rated pet store. You will also want to quarantine and monitor any fish that you purchase before you place them into your main aquarium.