Pterygoplichthys scrophus • Loricariidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pterygoplichthys scrophus** (Cope, 1874)
Common Name(s)	Alligator Pleco, Chocolate Pleco, Rhino Pleco
Type Locality	Nauta, Peru.
Synonym(s)	Glyptoperichthys scrophus, Liposarcus scrophus
Pronunciation	terry gop LICK thees - skro fuss
Etymology	Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish. Masculine form of "scrofa", which means "breeding sow".
Species Information
Size	275mm (10.8") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Pterygoplichthys can be identified by the number of rays in the dorsal fin. More than 10 indicates that it's a Pterygoplichthys. Most other plecos have 8 or fewer rays (in particular the larger Hypostomus species that are most likely to be confused with Pterygoplichthys). These plecos have large nostril two horn-like protrusions from their head that are actually nasal flutes or nostril flaps. The also have alligator-like ridges along the sides of their body. Colours range from a rich brown to black to mottled brown.
Sexing	Comparison of the genital papilla in mature fish shows the differences in the sexes to the trained eye. In males this is a small yet thick stump which noticeably protrudes from the fish's undercarriage. In females it is less obvious and is recessed or lies flat with the body.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Marañon and Ucayali River basins. Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	22.0-28.0°C or 71.6-82.4°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	An adaptible omnivore that will eat a variety of foods, besides being a very good algae eater, supplement diet with sinking pellet foods and algae wafers. Vegetables and freeze dried foods also accepted.
Furniture	All but the most robust of plants tend to be eaten or uprooted. Flat stones and bogwood are required to construct caves. Will even eat floating plants. A good pleco for the deeper aquarium.
Compatibility	A generally peaceful fish but can be aggressive with other bottom dwellers of similar size/species if not given sufficient room.
Suggested Tankmates	Almost any medium sized community fish.
Breeding	Unreported.
Further Information
References	Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. v. 26 136 International exploration of freshwater No.7, vol.2
Registered Keepers	(1) Persephone, (2) Chrysichthys, (3) HylaChristine (p: 4), (4) Chi-Chi, (5) MisanthropeKitty, (6) Belial, (7) bluenewt, (8) joepleco, who also notes: "The hardiest of fish, keeping it it for nearly a decade, mine has better coloration being various alternating shades of chocolate,cedar,cinnamon and mocha. When I bought him?her? I picked the brightest one from the tank, and it stayed that way.", (9) Junttis, (10) corylover14 (p: 12), (11) ashik, (12) weisel, (13) joe.juice13, (14) briggadane (k: 2), (15) Tasplec, (16) doesdavid, (17) Thalan, (18) stratofish (p: 3), (19) dragonfish, (20) xander, (21) Breezer, (22) EdieBird, (23) mark woodhouse, (24) royaldragoness, (25) tezr, (26) mangopleco, who also notes: "Most peacefulfish", (27) smitty, who also notes: "Purchased at 2 inches", (28) bulldogsimon, (29) GER1023, (30) klink5, (31) NC24 (p: 2), (32) 000, (33) rayfong, (34) adrisdad, (35) Groovylad, (36) YARIS, (37) Decker504, (38) arapaimag, (39) JFishNerd (k: 2), (40) john_d, (41) Joeka, (42) milosz, (43) blu, (44) Max Chumachenko (k: 2), (45) Pcpolo111, (46) DKcincy, (47) jonhybravo2, who also notes: "This is a stiking specimin. It looks like a dinasaur. Its fin looks like it can cut steel. Brown banded dark colored. One of the most beautiful plecs I have ever seen.", (48) uaru. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2011 July
	Search Planet Catfish for more on Pterygoplichthys scrophus
	Look up Pterygoplichthys scrophus on AquaticRepublic.com
BBCode	(for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
	(for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
	Look up Pterygoplichthys scrophus on Fishbase
	Get or print a QR code for this species profile, or try our BETA label creator.
Hits	39528 hits.
Last Update	2013 Jan 28 16:55 (species record created: 2001 Apr 28 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Pterygoplichthys scrophus (Cope, 1874)

Common Name(s)

Alligator Pleco, Chocolate Pleco, Rhino Pleco

Type Locality

Nauta, Peru.

Synonym(s)

Glyptoperichthys scrophus, Liposarcus scrophus

Pronunciation

terry gop LICK thees - skro fuss

Etymology

Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish. Masculine form of "scrofa", which means "breeding sow".

Species Information

Size

275mm (10.8") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Pterygoplichthys can be identified by the number of rays in the dorsal fin. More than 10 indicates that it's a Pterygoplichthys. Most other plecos have 8 or fewer rays (in particular the larger Hypostomus species that are most likely to be confused with Pterygoplichthys).

These plecos have large nostril two horn-like protrusions from their head that are actually nasal flutes or nostril flaps. The also have alligator-like ridges along the sides of their body. Colours range from a rich brown to black to mottled brown.

Sexing

Comparison of the genital papilla in mature fish shows the differences in the sexes to the trained eye. In males this is a small yet thick stump which noticeably protrudes from the fish's undercarriage. In females it is less obvious and is recessed or lies flat with the body.

Habitat Information

Distribution

South America: Marañon and Ucayali River basins.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.0 - 7.6

Temperature

22.0-28.0°C or 71.6-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

An adaptible omnivore that will eat a variety of foods, besides being a very good algae eater, supplement diet with sinking pellet foods and algae wafers. Vegetables and freeze dried foods also accepted.

Furniture

All but the most robust of plants tend to be eaten or uprooted. Flat stones and bogwood are required to construct caves. Will even eat floating plants. A good pleco for the deeper aquarium.

Compatibility

A generally peaceful fish but can be aggressive with other bottom dwellers of similar size/species if not given sufficient room.

Suggested Tankmates

Almost any medium sized community fish.

Breeding

Unreported.

Further Information

References

Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Phila. v. 26 136
International exploration of freshwater No.7, vol.2

Registered Keepers

(1) Persephone, (2) Chrysichthys, (3) HylaChristine (p: 4), (4) Chi-Chi, (5) MisanthropeKitty, (6) Belial, (7) bluenewt, (8) joepleco, who also notes: "The hardiest of fish, keeping it it for nearly a decade, mine has better coloration being various alternating shades of chocolate,cedar,cinnamon and mocha. When I bought him?her? I picked the brightest one from the tank, and it stayed that way.", (9) Junttis, (10) corylover14 (p: 12), (11) ashik, (12) weisel, (13) joe.juice13, (14) briggadane (k: 2), (15) Tasplec, (16) doesdavid, (17) Thalan, (18) stratofish (p: 3), (19) dragonfish, (20) xander, (21) Breezer, (22) EdieBird, (23) mark woodhouse, (24) royaldragoness, (25) tezr, (26) mangopleco, who also notes: "Most peacefulfish", (27) smitty, who also notes: "Purchased at 2 inches", (28) bulldogsimon, (29) GER1023, (30) klink5, (31) NC24 (p: 2), (32) 000, (33) rayfong, (34) adrisdad, (35) Groovylad, (36) YARIS, (37) Decker504, (38) arapaimag, (39) JFishNerd (k: 2), (40) john_d, (41) Joeka, (42) milosz, (43) blu, (44) Max Chumachenko (k: 2), (45) Pcpolo111, (46) DKcincy, (47) jonhybravo2, who also notes: "This is a stiking specimin. It looks like a dinasaur. Its fin looks like it can cut steel. Brown banded dark colored. One of the most beautiful plecs I have ever seen.", (48) uaru.

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles