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Catfish
/ Loricariidae / Clown Plecostomus
Clown Plecostomus; Clown Pleco; Tiger Plecostomus
Peckoltia pulcher | Pictures
Synonyms: None
Physical description: Its body is covered everywhere but the belly with large bony plates. The head is large,
broad, and flat. The mouth is located on the underside of the head and is shaped like a suction cup. It has one
pair of barbels. The color varies depending on the age, species, and environment of the individual. Usually the
body has a base color of light brown to black, but may be as light as white. The belly is white. The fish is striped
with 5-12 orange to white stripes. Sometimes these stripes are so wide that they appear to be the main body color
with black stripes. The fins are also striped like the body. The eyes protrude slightly from the head.
Size/Length: To 3" (7.5 cm)
Similar species: Other Peckoltia
species.
Habitat: South America; sections of the Rio Negro near Moura (Brazil).
S: bottom
Aquarium: 20" (50 cm) or 10 gallons (38 L).
The tank should be well-planted with
thickets for hiding places.
This species will damage soft-leafed plants.
Algae growth should be encouraged.
Provide
a cover of floating plants and some hiding places with roots, wood, or rocks.
This catfish likes clear, clean water
with a moderately strong current.
Water chemistry: pH 5.5-7.8 (7.0), 2-30 dH (10), 75-82°F (24-28°C)
Social behavior: A helpful, peaceful fish that can be kept with small tetras to medium sized cichlids.
An
excellent community fish.
May harmlessly quarrel with others of its own species.
Suggested companions: Corydoras,
Apistogramma, Discus, tetras
FOOD: The Clown Pleco lives almost exclusively on algae.
Sometimes it will take food tablets
and live Brine Shrimp.
Sexual differences: Very hard to distinguish.
Occasionally a fish develops bristles on its head, which may indicate
that the specimen is male.
Breeding techniques: Unsuccessful in captivity
Breeding potential: 10.
Breeding has not been accomplished.
Remarks: Very hardy as long as there is algae to eat. Each fish needs at least 10 gallons (38
L) of algae population will be depleted. Nocturnal.
Nineteen species of
Peckoltia are known to the hobby making
correct identification of a species difficult.
Difficulty of care: 3.
The Clown Pleco is an easy fish to care for as long as there is enough algae for it to
eat. A
superb fish for a community tank.
Recent articles about fish
Overfishing may hurt Amazon forest trees
(2/5/2008) Overfishing is reducing the effectiveness of seed dispersal by fish in the Brazilian Pantanal, reports Nature. The research suggests that fishing practices can affect forest health.
Scientists find fish that literally lives in trees
(10/17/2007) Scientists have found a fish that literally lives in trees, according to research published in The American Naturalist and highlighted in New Scientist Magazine.
Piranhas originated when Amazon was flooded by seawater
(12/4/2007) South America's piranha family of fish -- notorious as eaters of flesh -- can be traced back to a single ancestor which dispersed when the Amazon was flooded by seawater some five million years ago, report researchers from the Institut de Recherche Pour le Developpement (IRD). Today piranhas are exclusively freshwater fish found from the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela to the Parana in Argentina.
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