Skip to content
underwatergreen
Menu

Species profile

Hypostomus L298

Hypostomus sp. (L298)

Common names: Hypostomus L298, L298

Undescribed speciesPlecostomus
Send Us A photo, be a contributor :)

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Brazil

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • An experienced keeper with a large heavily filtered aquarium
  • A single-pleco display with sturdy decor
  • An aquarist able to preserve accurate L-number identity

Think carefully if

  • The seller cannot support the L298 identification
  • The aquarium is sized for a small ornamental pleco
  • You expect routine indoor breeding

Hypostomus L298 is a South American loricariid represented by L298. It requires stable oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate species-appropriate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

A coded Hypostomus form with a broad armoured body and mottled or spotted brown-grey coloration. Appearance alone may not safely separate it from other regional Hypostomus, so the L298 identity should be preserved.

Use the L-number identification L298 together with the current assignment Hypostomus sp. (L298). 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.

Sex differences are not reliably visible. Mature males may develop stronger odontodes and a more angular head, while females become fuller, but venting is more dependable.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter
About 1,200–1,500 litres an hour
Suggested heater
About 300–450 W for this tank
Minimum tank volume
300 litres
Minimum tank length
120 cm
Minimum group size
1
Recommended group size
3
Activity level
Moderate
Flow preference
Moderate
Planting preference
Lightly planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Plan for a substantial adult with strong filtration, open floor space, good oxygenation and sturdy wood or rock cover. Do not select permanent housing from juvenile size.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Usually calm with midwater fish but capable of dominating food and shelter on the bottom. Adults may become territorial with other large plecos.

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.

Keep with robust peaceful fish and avoid crowded loricariid collections. Provide separate shelters and monitor competition closely.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
22–29 °C
pH
6–8
GH
2–20
KH
1–10
TDS
50–350
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, Herbivore, Omnivore, Scavenger
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • Natural aufwuchs and biofilmMaintain mature rocks and wood for continuous supplementary grazing.
  • Complete herbivore or algae waferUse a high-quality sinking staple with fibre.
  • Blanched leafy greens or courgetteOffer occasionally and remove leftovers.
  • Frozen daphnia or insect larvaeUse small portions as supplementary protein.

Offer varied vegetable-rich and omnivorous sinking foods, biofilm and occasional invertebrate protein. It requires deliberate feeding rather than scraps.

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
7
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.

Specific captive breeding information for L298 is limited. Large Hypostomus are generally difficult to reproduce in ordinary aquariums.

Habitat and Origin

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

Classification

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

Have you kept this species?

You can write a note about what worked for you, or send a photograph. We check everything before it appears here.

Share a note or photo

JPG, PNG, or WebP, up to 5 MB.

Immaculate Plecostomus L269

Spectracanthicus immaculatus

Care level
Advanced
Adult size
9–12 cm
Minimum tank
90 litres
Temperature
25–30 °C

Isaac’s Plecostomus L274

Baryancistrus isaaci

Care level
Advanced
Adult size
13.5–18 cm
Minimum tank
250 litres
Temperature
26–31 °C

Plan it with our tools