Catfish and Plecos
Sailfin Pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Photo: User:Ark pl wiki · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature23–28 °C
- pH6–8
- Minimum tank500 l
- Adult size45 cm
- Difficulty★★☆☆☆
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Amazon and Orinoco Basins
- Size
- 45 cm
- Temperature
- 23 – 28°C
- pH
- 6.0 – 8.0
- GH
- 4 – 20 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★★☆☆☆
- Water type
- tropical freshwater
- Swimming level
- lower
- Behavior
- Peaceful (territorial toward other large plecos)
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1
- Minimum aquarium size
- 500 L
- Diet
- Omnivorous with a tendency toward herbivory (vegetables, algae tablets, wood)
- Reproduction
- oviparous; digs tunnels along the banks
Notes: Enormous, sail-shaped dorsal fin and leopard-like markings. Produces a great deal of waste: requires powerful filtration. Sold as a juvenile but grows quickly; not suitable as a glass cleaner for medium-sized aquariums.
