Cat-eLog Right Loricariidae Right Hypostominae Right Dekeyseria  var.  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Dekeyseria picta  (Kner, 1854)
Common Names L052, Butterfly Pleco
L168, Orinoco Butterfly Pleco, Atabapo Butterfly Pleco, Brasiliansk Sommerfuglesugemalle (Denmark), Brazil Butterfly-Pleco (Germany), Flounder Pleco, Flounder Pleco, Gebänderter Zwergschilderwels (Germany)
Type Locality Manaus, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Ancistrus brachyura, Ancistrus brachyurus, Ancistrus pictus, Ancistrus pulcher, Dekeyseria brachyura, Dekeyseria brachyurus, Dekeyseria pulcher, Peckoltia brachyura, Peckoltia picta, Peckoltia pulcher, Zonancistrus brachyurus, Zonancistrus pictus, Zonancistrus pulcher
Pronunciation dee key SEAR ee ah - pik tah.
Articles
Article Link - Shane's World Right Species Right Partial translation of Kner's "Die Hypostomiden. Zweite Hauptgruppe der Familie der Panzerfische"
Down Species Information
Size 140mm or 5.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Similar to Lasiancistrus but broader when viewed from above especially in larger adults. Striped species of Dekeyseria were placed in Zonancistrus but because this was only based on colouration, they are more commonly placed with the non-striped species in Dekeyseria.

This catfish is a master of disguise. It can change colouration, chameleon-style, quickly. If kept on a black or very dark substrate is will go almost black. Kept on a lighter substrate it will show a pretty striped pattern during the day. Another reason for misidentification of this fish is that its night-time colouration is totally different from that it has during the day, some authors note this is adult versus juvenile colouration.
In more southerly occurring populations, the stripes are more clearly separated and the base colour of D. brachyura is more orange when you compare them directly. This species can be found in many hobbyist books under its old name of Peckoltia pulcher. More recently it was moved by Isbrucker et al into their new flounder pleco genus Zonancistrus. However, prevailing scientific usage appears to be with the use of Dekeyseria. L052, is a pattern variant from the Atabapo drainage has stripes that are less clearly separated and form a network pattern in adults. The following data was recorded from an adult male specimen of L052
Male
SL 97.0 mm
TL 121.0 mm
Dorsal: I,7
Pectorals: I,6
Pelvic: I,5
Anal: 4
Interopercular spines: coloured yellowish and straight. The very ends of these spines are curved like a hook and are a red/pink in colour.
Sexing Mature males have substantial odontodes both on the thick pectoral ray and the posterior part of the body. The male also have a broader head than the female.
General Remarks L168 was collected in the Rio Demini (Negro Basin).
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Lower Negro River basin in BRazil.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Atabapo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Lower Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Upper Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Upper Negro, Casiquiare (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Upper Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Demini (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 5.6 - 6.8
Temperature 24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Water should be soft, well oxygenated, warm and a little bit acidic to attempt breeding.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Tablet food, vegetarian foods and insect larvae. Doesn't eat wood but will eat readily from its surfaces. User data.
Furniture Open spaces, large flat surfaces and shade provided by leafy cover or the lower light conditions of blackwater. Plants are not necessary but are generally left unmolested especially if the fish is being fed properly.
Compatibility Peaceful and doesn't appear overly territorial with its own kind.
Breeding Broods varying between 50 to 120 eggs. The eggs take a long time to develop and hatch (9-10 days). The fry are well developed and are almost without a yolk sac. The fry are very fast growing.
Breeding Reports There are 8 breeding reports, read them all here.
Down Further Information
Reference Denkschriften der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe. v. 7, pp 277 [27], Pl. 4 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers There are 359 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 110 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2020 Oct 05 14:51 (species record created: 2011 Sep 23 05:21)