/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/1.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(1) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/2.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(2) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/3.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(3) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/4.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(4) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/5.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(5) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/6.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(6) Close-up of head - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/7.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(7) Close-up of mouth - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/8.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(8) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/9.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(9) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/10.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(10) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/11.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(11) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/12.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(12) - Click to enlarge")
/loricariidae/hypostomus/plecostomus/13.jpg "Hypostomus plecostomus(13) - Click to enlarge")
 Cat-eLog Data Sheet | |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hypostomus plecostomus (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Common Name(s) | None |
| Type Locality | Suriname. |
| Synonym(s) | Acipenser plecostomus, Hypostomus guacari, Loricaria flava, Plecostomus bicirrosus, Plecostomus brasiliensis, Plecostomus plecostomus |
| Pronunciation | hi POSS tow muss - PLEK oss toe mus |
| Etymology | Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth. pleco = sucker, stomus = mouth. |
| Species Information | |
| Size | 300mm (11.8") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
| Identification | Due to the number of species in the genus, identification is very difficult without exact provenance of the specimen. Most ''common plecos'' are now exported from Peru and Brazil. Photos of the real H. plecostomus are common in aquarium literature from the 1960s and 70s when ''common plecos'' were exported from Venezuela, Suriname, and the Guyanas. |
| Sexing | Large adult males possess thickened pectoral fins that turn reddish pink. Gravid adult females appear thicker when viewed from above. |
| Habitat Information | |
| Distribution | Throughout northern South America and Trinidad. Also found throughout the Orinoco basin, although some authors believe that Orinoco specimens may represent a different species. The photographs above are all of H. plecostomus from the Orinoco basin. Weber (2003) restricted distribution to coastal drainages of the Guianas. Orinoco  (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there) |
| pH | 6.5 - 8.0 |
| Temperature | 20.0-30.0°C or 68-86°F (Show others within this range) |
| Other Parameters | In nature, this fish is common in slower portions of larger rivers. It inhabits nearly every environment from riffles, the river banks, and driftwood snags. |
| Husbandry Information | |
| Feeding | A true omnivore that will eat anything. The diet should be primarily vegetarian. |
| Furniture | Ideally a large tank with driftwood and a few caves. Substrate is unimportant. |
| Compatibility | Larger specimens can be territorial, but they rarely cause damage to tankmates. Smaller fishes are ignored. |
| Suggested Tankmates | Keep with medium to large sized community fishes or most American cichlids. |
| Breeding | Probably never accomplished. They normally spawn in holes in the river bank, but I have also captured this species in mountain rivers and ponds that did not have earthen banks. In these habitats it must spawn in caves formed by rocks and/or driftwood. |
| Further Information | |
| References | Systema Nat. ed. 10v. 1 - pp238 |
| Registered Keepers | (1) MatsP, who also notes: "Not sure it was EXACTLY this species, as they are notoriously difficult to identify. I had two different ones, but only one at a time.", (2) Trident2004, (3) Chrysichthys, (4) Cooky_luvs (p: 7), (5) Meechity, who also notes: ""Ruby"; 6 inches; albino "sailfin" pleco; very shy eater.", (6) teddyman5, (7) nslott (k: 2), (8) synodontisjack, (9) SalmonAfrica, (10) Ill (p: 2), (11) kubastanik, (12) cymrucat, (13) Nick44, (14) KTLM, (15) Leah1976, (16) ewurm, (17) howdenend, (18) boo909, (19) genghiskhanll, (20) makok, (21) drplec, (22) marangmic, (23) Kennet, (24) TheFishGuy, (25) Jonaseddie, (26) Nuno Mendes, (27) tunafish, (28) Sciencehero, (29) acuarista36, (30) Stackdeck, (31) arapaimag (k: 41), (32) sasdrum, (33) GER1023, who also notes: "Fish is 6 inches not mm.", (34) milosz, (35) james gilbertson. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.  Add this species to your "my cats" page. |
| Breeding Reports | None. |
| More Resources |
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| Hits | 30281 hits. |
| Last Update | 2011 Sep 28 07:40 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00) |
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