Detailed Information About the Plecostomus Aquarium Fish

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Brief Overview

The Plecostomus Tropical Aquarium Fish has been called the Fresh Water Hobbyists dinosaur. Their large size, majestic demeanor, and plated bodies instantly remind the viewer of Jurassic Times. These algae eating fish grow rather large (see videos)so be certain you will have enough room when you purchase one. The Plecostomus has a very calm demeanor and does a FANTASTIC job cleaning algae off of the sides of your aquarium. They produce an inordinate amount of feces so be certain you have more than adequate filtration. Being mellow and bottom dwelling, and very large, you can comfortably add a Plecostomus Tropical Aquarium Fish to any community tank that has room. Some recommended tank mates would be Black Veil Angelfish, Congo Tetra, or any of the Gourami family.

To watch a Youtube video of this fish click here.

Detailed Wikipedia Information

Hypostomus plecostomus is the scientific name for a type of freshwater tropical Central and South American Tropical Aquarium Fish belonging to the family Loricariidae. They are large algae eaters, and to differentiate them from small algae eaters, they are often referred to as plecostomus, often abbreviated as plecos or plecs. They are extremely popular in Freshwater Tropical Aquariums for their ability to clean tanks by eating algae growth. In Malaysia, this fish are called 'ikan bandaraya' or 'municipal fish' in English because their ability to clean fish tank. These friendly-natured fish can typically be purchased when about 8 cm (3 inches) and may grow up to 60 cm (2 ft) if there is adequate room, although a relatively new, hardy species grows to a maximum of 10 cm (4 inches), an ideal size for small to average size tanks.

Plecostomus Tropical Aquarium Fish are omnivorous but, in the wild, feed mostly on plant material at night. During the day, their unusual omega irises block a lot of the light out of their eyes, but they are usually open at night. They can roll their eye within their sockets.

As they age, their foreheads enlarge in a peculiar manner. Plecos may become more territorial with age and are best kept individually in tanks. Because of their potentially large size and territorial behaviour, it may be advisable to procure a less aggressive catfish. In a suitably large tank, a solitary plecostomus will live amicably enough in a community alongside other tropical fish. These catfish may survive in tanks with "cold-water" species like goldfish, but it is genrally not advised due to the different temperature preferences.

There are a number of species that are sold on the market under the name common algae sucker, including Hypostomus plecostomus, Hypostomus punctatus, Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus, and Pterygoplichthys pardalis. A maturing plecostomus sucking to a aquarium ornament.

There are many types of suckermouth armoured catfishes that science has not described. As a result, they are given a common name and an L-number designation until a new scientific name for the fish is described. An example is the flash plecostomus, L204, believed to be a species of Panaque.

Physical description

The Plecostomus Tropical Aquarium Fish can be quite large and usually has a brownish, patterned coloration. They have a prominent, and beautiful, dorsal fin, and a large sucker for a mouth. Plecostomus catfish are some of the most commonly kept algae-eating catfish, and are also some of the largest. Individuals measuring over 60 cm (2 ft) long have been reported in ponds and large tanks; most people think they only grow large enough for their aquarium, but a small tank may only slow their rate of growth. Their growth may also become stunted in a smaller tank, leading to bad health and possibly an early death.

Etymology

The name "plecostomus" means "folded mouth" (pleco, see pleat, stomas, see stomach), but it has since been applied to any of a large number of species that have a similar shape, but vary widely in terms of maximum length, coloration, and certain body features such as the "horns" on the bristlenose catfish (genus Ancistrus).

In the aquarium

Plecos, when introduced to an aquarium, will often find a permanent resting place (under or inside an ornament or rock, for example) to spend most of its time. This becomes a "home" for the Plecostomus. If there are no hiding places, they will sleep on the corner of their tank.

Some fish keepers have trouble housing Plecostomus Tropical Aquarium Fish in heavily planted aquariums, some plecostomus thrash their tails to develop a "well" in the gravel of the aquarium, making it is often necessary to replant aquarium plants that they dislodge.

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