Dorsal Rubberlip Plecostomus L443
Chaetostoma dorsale
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 9–12 cm
- Minimum tank
- 100 litres
- Temperature
- 18–25 °C
Species profile
Common Plecostomus
Hypostomus plecostomus
Common names: Common Plecostomus, Common Pleco, Suckermouth Catfish, Plecostomus, Sea Hasar, Spotted Pleco
Recognized speciesPlecostomus
Adult size
Up to 50 cm
Up to 50 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- A keeper with room for a large aquarium
Think carefully if
- You cannot provide about 648 litres for a fully grown fish
The classic pleco sold to clean tanks, which grows into a big fish, up to 50 cm, and produces a lot of waste. Keep alone or in a small group in 648 litres or more.
Appearance and Identification
The classic pleco sold to clean tanks, which grows into a big fish, up to 50 cm, and produces a lot of waste. It needs a very large tank and strong filtration, and many fish sold under this name are really Pterygoplichthys, which grow just as large. It is also an invasive pest where released.
Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.
Mature males are usually broader in the head, with more bristles on the body or snout.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 2,590–3,240 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 650–975 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 648 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 180 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 1
- Activity level
- Low
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Moderate
Provide wood and caves, plenty of oxygen and steady flow. Most are active at night and need places to hide during the day.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Mostly active after dark, spending the day in a cave or under wood.
Usually kept singly or in a small group, in a tank with one cave for each fish.
Males can defend caves against other bottom-dwellers.
A peaceful community fish, with others that like similar water. It may compete for caves with other bottom-dwellers.
Water Parameters
- Temperature
- 22–30 °C
- pH
- 6.5–7.5
- Stability importance
- Important
Fairly tolerant of different water, if it is clean and stable.
Parameter caveat
Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.
Feeding
- Diet types
- Herbivore, Omnivore
- Feeding frequency
- Daily
- Preferred foods
- Spirulina or algae wafersShould make up much of the diet.
- Blanched vegetablesCourgette, cucumber and peas work well. Remove leftovers within a day.
- Small frozen foodsAn occasional addition for protein.
Diet varies by species, from algae and wood to meaty foods. Feed sinking foods after lights-out.
Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.
Breeding
- Breeding difficulty
- Not commonly bred
- Parental care
- Unknown
Not commonly bred in aquariums, and little has been recorded about how it spawns.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, South America, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
- Natural habitat
- River
- Aquarium contexts
- Large Freshwater Aquarium
- Audience level
- Specialist
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Hypostomus
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Species group
- Fish, Plecostomus
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Dumus Plane Plecostomus L244
Pseudolithoxus dumus
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 12–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 90 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Dwarf Panaque L296
Panaqolus sp. (L296)
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Minimum tank
- 90 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C
Feldberg’s Plecostomus L012/L013
Ancistomus feldbergae
- Care level
- Intermediate
- Adult size
- 13.5–18 cm
- Minimum tank
- 150 litres
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C