Xikrin Plecostomus L171
Hopliancistrus xikrin
- Care level
- Advanced
- Adult size
- 11.2–15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 100 litres
- Temperature
- 25–30 °C
Species profile
Wormline Peckoltia L121/L135/L305
Peckoltia braueri
Common names: Wormline Peckoltia L121/L135/L305, L121, L135, L305
Recognized speciesPlecostomus
Adult size
Up to 14 cm
Typical adult length 10.5–14 cm.
Up to 14 cm
Countries of origin
Good fit for your tank?
Good fit for
- Mature planted aquarium setups
- Intermediate shrimp keepers
Think carefully if
- The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
- The tank is newly cycled
- Water conditions change frequently
Wormline Peckoltia L121/L135/L305 is a South American loricariid represented by L121, L135, L305. It requires stable oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate species-appropriate feeding.
Appearance and Identification
An armoured South American loricariid currently identified as Peckoltia braueri. Colour, spot size, bands, fin markings, and body proportions separate similar L-number forms.
Use the L-number identification L121, L135, L305 together with the current assignment Peckoltia braueri. Do not merge it with visually similar forms without matching collection locality and diagnostic features.
Mature males usually develop a broader head and stronger cheek or pectoral odontodes. Females are generally fuller through the abdomen when carrying eggs.
Tank Requirements
- Suggested filter
- About 360–450 litres an hour
- Suggested heater
- About 100–125 W for this tank
- Minimum tank volume
- 90 litres
- Minimum tank length
- 75 cm
- Minimum group size
- 1
- Recommended group size
- 3
- Activity level
- Moderate
- Flow preference
- Moderate
- Planting preference
- Moderately planted
- Hiding places
- Yes
- Lid recommended
- Yes
- Jumping risk
- Low
Provide at least 90 litres and a tank length of about 75 cm or more. Use strong biological filtration, high gas exchange, stable hardscape, multiple caves, and clear feeding areas. Prevent waste from accumulating beneath wood and rocks.
Behaviour and Tankmates
Primarily nocturnal or crepuscular and closely associated with caves, rock, wood, and the substrate.
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.
Choose peaceful fish with matching temperature and current needs. Avoid crowding territorial plecos into the same floor area, and do not combine large predatory forms with small or delicate bottom dwellers.
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Xilong XL-803D canister filter – up to 100 L
An external-filter option for the moderate-flow setup described above. The seller lists a 400 L/h pump and an aquarium capacity of up to 100 litres.
Check the volume of your actual aquarium and the needs of its complete stocking. Use the flow control or spray bar to avoid a concentrated current. A larger tank or a species requiring strong river flow needs a different filter selection.
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Cut-to-fit aquarium filter media pad
A cut-to-fit pad for compatible filter compartments. The listing describes a sheet approximately 16 by 12 inches; check the offered variant and the space inside your filter.
The seller description varies between five and eight layers, so confirm the actual sheet before ordering. Keep the filter manufacturer’s media arrangement and avoid obstructing the flow.
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Xinyou ceramic filter rings – 300 g
A biological-media option for a filter with a suitable media basket. This listing is a 300 g pack of ceramic rings.
Check the ring size and available basket space. Installing new media does not make a new aquarium instantly cycled, and these rings do not replace routine water-quality checks.
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Water Parameters
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.
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Manual aquarium siphon and gravel cleaner
A manual siphon for routine aquarium water changes and accessible waste removal. The seller lists a hose approximately 1.6 m long.
Control the flow and keep the intake clear of fish and delicate planting. Clean the areas appropriate for your substrate and layout rather than disturbing the entire planted bed.
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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.
An omnivorous hardscape forager requiring a varied sinking diet rather than community leftovers.
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
- 26.5 °C
- Breeding pH
- 6.5
- Brood or egg count
- Usually several dozen adhesive eggs, with clutch size depending on species and female size.
- 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 paternal cave spawner. The female deposits adhesive eggs in a tight shelter, after which the male guards and fans the clutch and yolk-sac fry. Successful breeding requires a correctly sized cave, clean oxygen-rich water, and compatible adults.
Habitat and Origin
- Geographic origin
- Amazon Basin, Brazil, Guyana, South America
- Natural habitat
- Fast-Flowing Stream, Freshwater River, Rocky Shoreline
- Aquarium contexts
- Breeding Tank, Freshwater Aquarium, Freshwater Community, Planted Aquarium
- Audience level
- Intermediate
Classification
- Profile type
- Recognized species
- Genus
- Peckoltia
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Species group
- Fish, Plecostomus
- Previous scientific names
- Peckoltia sp. (L121), Historic L-number designation retained for identification., Peckoltia sp. (L135), Historic L-number designation retained for identification., Peckoltia sp. (L305), Historic L-number designation retained for identification.
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- Care level
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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- Adult size
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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- Care level
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- Adult size
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- Minimum tank
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- Temperature
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