Isbrücker & Nijssen's description states "About 1 hr. upstream of Altamira by speedboat, anastomoses of Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil.". However, in keeping with much about this species, this is incorrect. Isbrücker & Nijssen did not collect in the Xingu. The source of this information to the describers was influenced by the desire to keep that commercially valuable information restricted for as long as possible. The real locality is closer to one hour downstream by speedboat from Altamira.
hype an siss truss - zee BRA
A contraction of the Greek hypo (meaning less than) and ancistrus, an allusion to the reduced number of teeth (particularly in the lower jaw) found in this genus. zebra = from the African black and white striped equine.
The most high-profile aquarium catfish of our time. Known by the l-number L046 (the common form) and L098 which is a uncommonly found wavy / broken line colour variation.
The first pectoral fin ray of the male is somewhat thicker than that of the female. Males in breeding condition further develop their spine-like ''odontodes'' on this ray. The male has a slightly broader head than the female, best observed from above.
Rio Xingú, Brazil
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Xingu 
, Middle Xingu (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
6.0 - 7.5
26.0-30.0°C or 78.8-86°F (Show others within this range)
The water chemistry of the Rio Xingú is well documented, but it is not that important as H. zebra seems to do well in just about any water provided it is high in oxygen content and warm. pH and DH do not seem to matter since the fish has been spawned in all types of water, even water that was hard and alkaline. To best replicate their natural habitat the water would be neutral to slightly acidic and soft.
Unlike the popular opinion of many other loricariids, H. zebra is more of a carnivore than an algae eater. This is backed up by a small and lightly toothed mouth that indicates it is a poor algae eater. Provide mainly meaty foods such as bloodworm and even brineshrimp.
The Rio Xingú is full of rocks of many sizes with some fine sand between them. H. zebra is collected in deeper mid-water channels where it hides in crevices. The ideal H. zebra tank would be set up much differently than what we picture as a typical ''South American'' biotope. The tank should resemble a rocky riffle area in a stream with jumbles of rounded rocks and good water movement. Provide lots of small caves as the fish normally live and spawn in the caves and cracks of rocks. The rocks should be assembled in a haphazard fashion to create lots of crevices and shelves in which the fish can cram themselves. Sand is preferable, but large rounded gravel or bare-bottomed tanks are also accepted. Prefers dark rock to bogwood but I would provide some wood (many people claim that their zebras never touch the stuff) - better safe than sorry in my opinion.
Peaceful but choose tankmates wisely as Zebras do not compete well for food with particularly fast or aggressive tankmates.
An ideal (although expensive) addition to any community tank especially one stocked with active, but not boisterous, current loving fish. For some reason many people ask if this species can be kept with discus or loaches, it can, but you are unlikely to get the best out of this fish in such company. Best kept in groups of 1 male and 2-3 females with active, current loving dither fish.
Raise temp. to at least 82°F and ensure the tank is well aerated and heavily filtered (A tank turnover rate of 6 times an hour is not excessive). Ensure there are many spawning caves and crevices available for the fish to select. During spawning - which takes place in several batches - the male blocks the cave entrance with his head. The female persuades the male away from guarding the cave entrance to fertilize the eggs. Once this is complete the male will often have to push the female out of the cave before he can resume his parental guarding. It is quite common that the first spawn will be more of a ''trial run'' and the eggs will remain infertile. There are typically between seven and 15 eggs laid. They take around 7 days to hatch, after 10 the yolk sac should be completely consumed and feeding begins. They immediately take dried foods and frozen or live brine shrimp nauplii. They will take about 2.5 months to reach 1'' in length.
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters v. 1 (no. 4) - pp348 - Figs. 1-2
(1) Kenneth Wong, (2) fischling (p: 2), (3) mikey, (4) Cory-Diddi, (5) Kristofer, (6) plecoboy, (7) Borbi (k: 4), (8) Barbie (k: 20), who also notes: "I've found these interesting fish to be relatively easy to keep happy in water that is not too acidic or alkaline. A pH between 6 and 8 is easily tolerated with proper acclimation. Feeding consists of meat based small foods and with enough tim", (9) Zebra46 (k: 42), (10) ThorG, (11) Lornek8, (12) pisces52, (13) husky_jim (k: 6), (14) lordotterby, (15) alga (k: 12), (16) zhallam, (17) Oliver D. (k: 23), who also notes: "Spawned", (18) DarkAtlas, (19) Devangel (p: 2), (20) stang1 (k: 7), (21) taksan (k: 6), who also notes: "Grew these up to fine adult sized fish from tiny 3cm juveniles.Then disaster !
All fish died within 24 hours ! Evidence of internal bleeding. Suspected contaminated batch of bloodworm's the cause.", (22) crazyplec, (23) LoL, (24) nettaigyo, (25) Owch, (26) andrewcoxon (k: 4), (27) Daragh (k: 8), (28) Kenyan (p: 2), (29) spot86t (k: 7), (30) Brotox, (31) smithrc, (32) Freakdaddy (k: 3), (33) Bengt F (k: 14), (34) prutsprogrammeur (k: 3), (35) franc (k: 2), (36) krk181, (37) Poshpleco, (38) henryrus, (39) MONG, (40) alenate (k: 9), who also notes: "Breeding group", (41) kerryteatsjr (k: 6), (42) Haavard Stoere (p: 3, k: 73), (43) Snowy (k: 5), (44) Walter, (45) haxjester, (46) chillired, (47) joepleco, (48) magnar30, (49) defibf (k: 9), (50) storch31 (p: 2), (51) Vierrollenfreak (k: 10), (52) gemjunkie, (53) BooUrns! (k: 2), (54) jburke11 (k: 31), (55) celticfish, (56) muddymudskipper, (57) doodle (k: 3), (58) kenneth knutsen, (59) Troender (k: 3), (60) NHL (k: 6), (61) defi (k: 11), (62) Dinyar, (63) Dex (k: 4), (64) lewishan (p: 2), (65) Koen (k: 18), (66) kwakermad (k: 2), (67) scatz, (68) L-ko, (69) Julie, (70) JO C (p: 3, k: 85), who also notes: "50% weekly water change.
HMA water
UV
Ph 7.3
Temp 30 c
Feed bloodworm. lobster eggs.
Spawn every 3 - 4weeks", (71) miniko, (72) reticulata (k: 27), who also notes: "Two breeding groups.", (73) karlwu, (74) Numbers, (75) pureplecs (k: 6), (76) Chillired89, (77) Tommi (k: 9), who also notes: "Bough as juveniles. Own species tank.", (78) The Highlander, (79) Panaque Lover, (80) PGR (k: 4), (81) zedogz (p: 8), (82) ashik (k: 4), (83) PhiltheNelson, (84) plec0 (k: 8), (85) 78bill, (86) soltarii007 (k: 2), (87) ben757, (88) djwalker124, (89) thegeeman, (90) PlecoCrazy (k: 31), (91) tvwav, (92) Melchior (k: 4), (93) AndrewC (k: 26), (94) Ak Viking (p: 2, k: 10), (95) thijs81, (96) ElTofi (k: 9), who also notes: "30 spawnings, 350 youngsters bred... and then, I sold the "perfect" group... 4 differents
DNA origins... I shouldn't have sold it : my biggest mistake !", (97) BrendanK, (98) vman, (99) saltcop, (100) drakeho (k: 29), (101) tinman_rlg, (102) bikerman6660, (103) ablank (k: 39), (104) tigger27, (105) yeunghk (k: 40), (106) Sutrisno (p: 2), (107) st24rsap (k: 9), (108) jasonkhor, (109) Bacce, (110) OlePaulsen (k: 3), (111) dconnors (k: 16), (112) tilly, (113) drd (k: 7), (114) Janne Josefsson, (115) godfreyhales (k: 9), (116) tinycichlid1 (k: 6), (117) Plaegis (k: 6), (118) catfish dude, (119) Renegadecat, (120) TwoTankAmin (k: 74), who also notes: "Spawning group since 05/2006.
F1s 15- growing out with 2 F) adult males.
40-50 assorted fry.", (121) ouscazz (p: 2, k: 9), (122) jac (k: 60), who also notes: "First spawn 28-9-'10. 2 Successful breeding groups.", (123) claro, (124) Billybob, (125) chris1932 (k: 6), (126) donishi, (127) Juand15, (128) Jools (k: 9), (129) Ben-cgn, (130) Bjørn, (131) linz_d87 (k: 4), (132) ayrtoninst (k: 75), (133) Elisabeth Dahl (k: 44), who also notes: "breeding group", (134) X-Tank, (135) drpleco (k: 3), (136) svenrhapsody, (137) vanillarum (k: 14), (138) puresp (k: 9), who also notes: "9 juveniles 30-35 mm TL picked up in Helsingborg", (139) HenkeP (k: 13), who also notes: "4 adults, 5 youngsters and 4 fry in here.", (140) nerdworks (k: 13), (141) bottomfeeders (k: 6), (142) somename (p: 2), (143) keen-eyed (k: 9), (144) Hikarixz, (145) Hitch (k: 7), (146) stefanfischer (k: 5), (147) Sven_N, (148) oli (k: 5), (149) Vision Dancer, (150) aquadominus, (151) barry555 (p: 2), (152) stensson (k: 5), (153) AleGer (k: 8), (154) Dan* (k: 10), (155) djtonyel (k: 2), (156) har_eh (k: 14), (157) Lygen, (158) Rita Aspevik (k: 13), (159) NC24 (k: 34), (160) Donald (k: 5), (161) sfchoong, (162) Matt30 (k: 5), (163) Raina, (164) zebra1, (165) fleahound, (166) KrisA (k: 8), (167) YSR50 (k: 4), (168) Jude, (169) Heartbreaker714, (170) coelacanth, (171) Suckermouth (k: 6), (172) Onatopa, (173) arapaimag (k: 6), (174) Neo (k: 10), who also notes: "Have spawned L46 before and that is the plan once more", (175) dt23, (176) kwalker (k: 6), (177) FFTRIP, (178) 2wheelsx2, who also notes: "WC unknown sex gifted from a friend.", (179) Sam, (180) Andypex (p: 4, k: 20), who also notes: "3 different groups, will be seperating out into breeding groups soon.", "Ongoing spawning attempts with 1 x male and 1 x female.
Moved the pair back into the community after the female was heavily damaged during a spawning attempt. The male trapped her in the cave but then chewed off her tail instead of spawning :-(.
This tank now holds 3 juvenile L114.", (181) universalsoul, (182) Zulan, (183) FISHFREAK2, (184) BigBUSbernard, (185) rroomm11 (k: 8), (186) mistern2005 (k: 15), who also notes: "This accounts for the zebras kept in my main 40B.", (187) mikeyboy31175, (188) nnpnnp, (189) Birger Amundsen (k: 9), (190) Yakov_krepak, (191) Lars Jamne (k: 7), who also notes: "Wild caught individuals from ca 2004/5", (192) upc239 (k: 20), (193) bex46 (k: 29), who also notes: "Kept at 30 C, species only tank", (194) fishboy20, (195) kiwiplymouth, (196) Rod47 (p: 2, k: 51), who also notes: "Began attempting to breed H. zebra in Jan 2011. First spawns obtained in August 2011. At least one male is spawning every 3-4 weeks.", (197) lukan (p: 2), (198) Max Chumachenko, (199) mozart625 (k: 25), (200) freshfishing (k: 4).
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(1) ElTofi (b: 47), (2) AleGer (b: 47), (3) rroomm11 (b: 37), (4) bex46 (b: 33), (5) Jools (b: 29), (6) har_eh (b: 23), (7) fishboy20 (b: 14), (8) mikeyboy31175 (b: 13).
- Shane's World 
Reproduction Spawning Hypancistrus zebra
- Shane's World Reproduction All About Zebra Plecos
- CotM 1997 November
- Shane's World Catfishology Aquascaping for Hypancistrus zebra, Pt 1 - The Perfectionist
- Shane's World Catfishology Aquascaping for Hypancistrus zebra, Pt 2 - The Rest of Us
-
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Last Update
2010 Mar 27 03:00 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)
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