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Species profile

Carinatus Plecostomus L166

Hypostomus carinatus

Common names: Carinatus Plecostomus L166, L166

Recognized speciesPlecostomus
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Adult size

Up to 30 cm

Typical adult length 22.5–30 cm.

Up to 30 cm

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 display needing one robust bottom-dwelling pleco
  • An aquarist prepared for substantial adult waste

Think carefully if

  • You are choosing housing from the juvenile's current size
  • The aquarium cannot support a large territorial bottom fish
  • You expect routine home breeding

Carinatus Plecostomus L166 is a South American loricariid represented by L166. It requires stable oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate species-appropriate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

A sturdy Hypostomus with a brown to orange-brown ground colour and numerous dark spots over the body and fins. Its adult build is broader and heavier than many ornamental L-number plecos.

Use the L-number identification L166 together with the current assignment Hypostomus carinatus. Do not merge it with visually similar forms without matching collection locality and diagnostic features.

Sex differences are not obvious. Mature males may develop stronger odontodes and a more angular head, while females become fuller, but venting is more dependable than pattern or colour.

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
1
Activity level
Moderate
Flow preference
Moderate
Planting preference
Lightly planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Provide a large aquarium with strong filtration, high oxygenation, open floor space and sturdy wood or rock shelters. The fish produces substantial waste and should not be housed according to its juvenile size.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Usually calm toward free-swimming fish but capable of dominating food and shelter on the bottom. Adult Hypostomus 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.

Choose robust peaceful companions and avoid cramped groups of large loricariids. Delicate plants and lightly built decor may be disturbed by a mature fish.

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 and omnivore sinking foods, fresh plant matter, biofilm and occasional invertebrate protein. It should receive complete meals rather than surviving on algae.

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, 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.

Reliable home-aquarium breeding is not well documented. Large Hypostomus often use nesting sites that are difficult to reproduce in ordinary tanks, so breeding should not be expected.

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
Recognized species
Genus
Hypostomus
Family
Loricariidae
Species group
Fish, Plecostomus
Previous scientific names
Hypostomus sp. (L166), Historic L-number designation retained for identification.

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Changae Dwarf Panaque L226

Panaqolus changae

Care level
Intermediate
Adult size
8.2–11 cm
Minimum tank
90 litres
Temperature
24–29 °C

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