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Species profile

L178 Lasiancistrus Plecostomus

Lasiancistrus sp. (L178)

Common names: L178 Lasiancistrus Plecostomus, L178

Undescribed speciesPlecostomus
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Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Brazil

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • A mature river-style community with wood and rock
  • A keeper comfortable with uncommon Lasiancistrus forms
  • An aquarist able to maintain accurate collection records

Think carefully if

  • The L-number identity is uncertain
  • Bottom territories are already occupied
  • You expect a fully documented breeding project

L178 Lasiancistrus Plecostomus is a South American loricariid represented by L178. It requires stable oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate species-appropriate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

L178 is an unidentified Lasiancistrus with mottled or spotted camouflage and a bristled cheek region in mature fish. Pattern alone may not distinguish it safely from related coded forms.

Use the L-number identification L178 together with the current assignment Lasiancistrus sp. (L178). Do not merge it with visually similar forms without matching collection locality and diagnostic features. The L-number remains the principal stable identifier because the form is undescribed or not conclusively assigned.

Mature males generally develop stronger cheek and snout odontodes and a broader head. Females remain smoother and become fuller through the abdomen, while juveniles are difficult to sex.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 400–500 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 100–150 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
100 litres
Minimum tank length
80 cm
Minimum group size
1
Recommended group size
3
Activity level
Moderate
Flow preference
High
Planting preference
Moderately planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Provide clean oxygenated water, wood, rock grazing surfaces and several close-fitting shelters. Moderate to strong current and a mature biofilm-rich aquarium suit its riverine habits.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Usually peaceful toward midwater fish but territorial around shelters and grazing surfaces. Males may become more defensive when ready to spawn.

Can be kept singly. A pair or group requires several appropriately sized caves and enough floor area for every adult to feed without being trapped.

Mature males commonly defend caves and favoured feeding areas from similarly shaped loricariids.

It can live with calm river fish if each bottom dweller has a separate retreat. Avoid aggressive plecos that can exclude it from food.

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Water Parameters

Temperature
23–28 °C
pH
5.5–7.5
GH
1–15
KH
0–7
TDS
30–250
Stability importance
Important

Maintain stable clean water with strong oxygenation. Warm water, protein-rich food, wood waste, and crowded hardscape can rapidly reduce oxygen and degrade water quality.

Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly to temperature and conductivity changes. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, control nitrate, and inspect caves and rockwork for trapped waste.

Feeding

Diet types
Aufwuchs Grazer, Insectivore, Omnivore
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Quality omnivore sinking waferUse a complete sinking food as the staple.
  • Frozen brine shrimp or insect larvaeOffer small portions for protein variety.
  • Natural biofilm and aufwuchsMaintain mature hardscape as supplementary grazing.
  • Vegetable-based waferProvides fibre and plant matter.

Feed an aufwuchs-based omnivorous diet with algae and vegetable-rich sinking foods, biofilm and regular small invertebrate foods.

Feed after lights dim and distribute food near every occupied shelter. Confirm that subordinate fish eat and remove rich leftovers before they affect water quality.

Breeding

Breeding type
Cave Spawner, Egg Layer
Breeding difficulty
Difficult
Breeding temperature
25.5 °C
Breeding pH
6.5
Brood or egg count
Usually several dozen adhesive eggs; dependable species-specific fecundity data are unavailable.
Incubation
7 days
Parental care
Paternal care
Baby foods
  • Mature biofilmProvides continuous grazing after fry leave the cave.
  • Fine powdered sinking foodFeed tiny portions close to shelter several times daily.
  • Newly hatched brine shrimpUse as supplementary protein once fry can take moving prey.

A male-guarded cave or crevice spawning pattern is expected for the genus, but reliable breeding details for this coded form remain limited.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Amazon Basin, Brazil, South America
Natural habitat
Fast-Flowing Stream, Freshwater River, Rocky Shoreline
Aquarium contexts
Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, High-Flow Aquarium
Audience level
Intermediate

Classification

Profile type
Undescribed species
Genus
Lasiancistrus
Family
Loricariidae
Species group
Fish, Plecostomus

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L197 Spectracanthicus

Spectracanthicus cf. immaculatus

Care level
Advanced
Minimum tank
90 litres
Temperature
25–30 °C

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