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Species profile

Yudja Hypancistrus L174

Hypancistrus yudja

Common names: Yudja Hypancistrus L174, L174, Hypancistrus Plecostomus

Recognized speciesPlecostomus
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Adult size

Up to 10 cm

Typical adult length 8–10 cm.

Up to 10 cm

Countries of origin

  • See all stock from Brazil

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

  • Mature planted aquarium setups
  • Advanced shrimp keepers

Think carefully if

  • The aquarium contains shrimp-eating fish
  • The tank is newly cycled
  • Water conditions change frequently

Yudja Hypancistrus L174 is a South American loricariid currently filed as Hypancistrus yudja. Adults reach approximately 10.0 cm. It requires stable, oxygen-rich water, suitable caves, and deliberate feeding.

Appearance and Identification

A compact Hypancistrus pleco with a broad head and a species-specific pattern of pale bands, spots, or vermiculations over a dark body. Pattern may change substantially with age.

This profile is identified by L174 and the current assignment Hypancistrus yudja. Do not merge it with a visually similar L-number without matching collection locality and diagnostic features.

Mature males usually develop stronger cheek and pectoral odontodes and a broader head. Ancistrus males also develop more prominent facial tentacles. Females become 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
High
Planting preference
Lightly planted
Hiding places
Yes
Lid recommended
Yes
Jumping risk
Low

Provide warm, strongly oxygenated water, high biological filtration, smooth rocks, and several caves with different entrances. Deliver food close to every occupied shelter.

Behaviour and Tankmates

A nocturnal cave-oriented pleco that spends the day beneath hardscape and emerges to feed after lights dim.

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 peaceful fish that tolerate the same temperature and current. Avoid crowding several territorial plecos into the same floor area, and do not combine large cactus plecos with small or delicate bottom dwellers.

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.

A protein-oriented omnivore that requires small sinking carnivore foods, invertebrate foods, and some plant matter.

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.

A paternal cave spawner. The male traps a receptive female in the cave, fertilises the adhesive clutch, and guards the eggs and yolk-sac fry until they disperse.

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. (L174), Historic L-number designation retained as a common identifier.

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Zebra Plecostomus L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Care level
Advanced
Adult size
6.4–8 cm
Minimum tank
90 litres
Temperature
26–31 °C

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