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Species profile

L066 Hypancistrus

Hypancistrus seideli

Common names: L066 Hypancistrus, L066, Hypancistrus Plecostomus

Recognized speciesPlecostomus
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Adult size

Up to 15 cm

Typical adult length 12–15 cm.

Up to 15 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Brazil

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • A keeper experienced with cave-spawning Hypancistrus
  • A warm species aquarium with several narrow caves
  • A breeder able to preserve locality or line records

Think carefully if

  • You expect it to clean algae
  • Males must share too few caves
  • Similar Hypancistrus forms will be mixed without records

L066 Hypancistrus is a South American loricariid currently filed as Hypancistrus seideli. Adults reach approximately 15.0 cm. It requires stable, oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

The King Tiger Pleco has a dark brown to black body covered by pale cream or white winding lines. Pattern width and continuity vary greatly among populations and individuals, and the named species includes several historically separate L-number forms.

This profile is identified by L066 and the current assignment Hypancistrus seideli. Do not merge it with a visually similar L-number without matching collection locality and diagnostic features.

Mature males develop broader heads and longer odontodes on the cheeks, first pectoral rays and rear body. Females are fuller through the abdomen, but young fish 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
High
Planting preference
Lightly planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Provide warm, clean and highly oxygenated water with strong filtration, rock or wood cover and several tight caves. Leave clear territories because mature males may contest preferred spawning sites.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Mostly nocturnal and generally peaceful with midwater fish, but territorial toward similar plecos and other males. Shy individuals may miss meals in a busy community.

Can be kept singly or in a managed breeding group if each adult has an appropriate cave and unobstructed feeding access.

Mature males defend caves and may trap or injure rivals when shelter is limited.

Choose calm warm-water fish and ensure every pleco has a cave and feeding station. Do not mix it casually with similar Hypancistrus if preserving a distinct population or line matters.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature
26–31 °C
pH
5.5–7.5
GH
1–12
KH
0–6
TDS
30–220
Stability importance
Critical

Maintain stable, clean, oxygen-rich freshwater. Strong filtration and gas exchange are essential because warm water, protein-rich feeding, and loricariid waste can reduce oxygen and impair water quality.

Parameter caveat
Acclimate slowly to changes in temperature and conductivity. Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero, control nitrate, and never allow caves or rockwork to create stagnant waste pockets.

Feeding

Diet types
Carnivore, Insectivore, Omnivore
Feeding frequency
Daily
Preferred foods
  • High-quality carnivore sinking tabletUse a small protein-rich food delivered near each cave after lights dim.
  • Frozen brine shrimp, mysis, or insect larvaeOffer varied small animal foods several times each week.
  • Soft omnivore waferProvides fibre and plant matter alongside the protein-rich staple.
  • Natural biofilmMature hardscape supports supplementary grazing but does not replace deliberate feeding.

Offer a protein-oriented omnivorous diet with quality sinking foods, crustacean and insect foods and some vegetable matter. It is not an effective algae-control fish.

Feed after lights dim and place food near every occupied cave. 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
29 °C
Breeding pH
6.5
Brood or egg count
Usually about 20 to 80 adhesive eggs, depending on the form and female size.
Incubation
7 days
Parental care
Paternal care
Baby foods
  • Mature biofilmContinuous grazing supports fry between targeted feeds.
  • Finely powdered sinking foodFeed tiny portions close to the breeding cave several times daily.
  • Newly hatched brine shrimpUseful supplementary protein once fry leave the cave and can take moving prey.

Captive breeding is well established. The female deposits eggs in a close-fitting cave and the male guards them, while clean oxygen-rich water and careful fry feeding support reliable survival.

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, High-Flow Aquarium, Species-Only Aquarium
Audience level
Advanced

Classification

Profile type
Recognized species
Genus
Hypancistrus
Family
Loricariidae
Species group
Fish, Plecostomus
Previous scientific names
Hypancistrus sp. (L066), Historic L-number designation retained as a common identifier.

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L078 Hypostomus

Hypostomus aff. pusarum

Care level
Intermediate
Minimum tank
300 litres
Temperature
22–29 °C

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