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Species profile

L008 Peckoltia Plecostomus

Peckoltia sp. (L008)

Common names: L008 Peckoltia Plecostomus, L008

Undescribed speciesPlecostomus

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Brazil

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • A mature peaceful community with wood and caves
  • A keeper comfortable with coded Peckoltia forms
  • An aquarist able to maintain accurate provenance

Think carefully if

  • The L008 identification is unsupported
  • The bottom is crowded with cave competitors
  • Similar forms will be mixed without breeding control

L008 Peckoltia Plecostomus is a South American loricariid represented by L008. It requires stable oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate species-appropriate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

A coded Peckoltia with a brown or tan body marked by dark bands, saddles and fine head patterning. Exact markings can overlap with other unnamed Peckoltia, making the L008 record important.

Use the L-number identification L008 together with the current assignment Peckoltia sp. (L008). 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 a broader head and stronger odontodes on the cheeks and pectoral region. Females become fuller, while juveniles are difficult to sex.

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 clean oxygenated water, driftwood, rock cover and several tight caves. Break sight lines and keep collection records separate from similar banded plecos.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Usually peaceful toward midwater fish but territorial around caves and food. Adult males may chase one another in cramped layouts.

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 suits calm communities if each bottom fish has a shelter and feeding area. Avoid mixing similar coded Peckoltia if preserving identity matters.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
24–29 °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 a varied omnivorous diet of sinking pellets, vegetable matter, biofilm and frozen invertebrate foods. It should not be expected to survive 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
26.5 °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.

Male-guarded cave spawning is expected for Peckoltia, but detailed reliable breeding information for L008 is limited. Record parentage carefully if breeding occurs.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin
Amazon Basin, Brazil, 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
Undescribed species
Genus
Peckoltia
Family
Loricariidae
Species group
Fish, Plecostomus

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