Atabapo butterfly pleco
Dekeyseria picta
Also known as L052, Butterfly pleco L052
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F (25–29°C)
- pH
- 4.8–6.5
- Adult size
- 5.5 in (14 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 53 gal (200 L)
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Rio Atabapo and Orinoco blackwaters
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
A flat, wide pleco for a blackwater layout, and one of the fastest color-changers in the family: it flips between pale banding and near-solid dark within a minute depending on mood and substrate. Give it open sand to sit on, wood to graze and a 200 liter tank. It is peaceful with other fish and does not bother plants. Feed vegetable-based sinking foods with some frozen protein, and keep the water soft and acidic.
In the wild
Dekeyseria picta lives in the blackwaters of the Rio Atabapo and the wider Orinoco, in very soft, acidic, tannin-stained water over sand and submerged wood. Keep it at 25 to 29 degrees Celsius and pH 4.8 to 6.5. It is less tolerant of hard water than most plecos.
Good to know
Dekeyseria picta reaches about 14 centimeters and has a flattened, almost leaf-like profile quite unlike the usual bristlenose shape. The rapid switch between a banded and a plain phase is under nervous control rather than slow pigment migration, which is why it happens in seconds. It is a cave spawner.
Did you know
On black substrate it prints stripes, on white sand it erases them; the fish is its own darkroom.
Tank mates
Atabapo butterfly pleco is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.
Parrot doradid
Rhynchodoras woodsiFreshwater4.1 in (10.5 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)Tamana royal farlowella
Sturisomatichthys tamanaeFreshwater8.7 in (22 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Green turushuki catfish
Hemidoras morrisiFreshwater6.3 in (16 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Clown barb
Barbodes dunckeriFreshwater5.1 in (13 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Parnahyba whiptail
Loricaria parnahybaeFreshwater9.8 in (25 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Striped woodcat
Trachelyopterichthys taeniatusFreshwater5.9 in (15 cm)53 gal (200 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does an Atabapo butterfly pleco need?
An Atabapo butterfly pleco needs at least 53 gal (200 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH do Atabapo butterfly pleco need?
Atabapo butterfly pleco are comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 4.8–6.5.
How big do Atabapo butterfly pleco get?
An adult Atabapo butterfly pleco reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- The Wet Spot Tropical Fish Large selection of quarantined tropical freshwater fish, with live arrival guarantee and Next Day Air flat rate shipping to all US locations
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
Keeping Atabapo butterfly pleco?
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Related species
Butterfly Pleco (L168)
Dekeyseria brachyuraFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Bola pleco
Peckoltia bachiFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Starlight Bristlenose Pleco (L183)
Ancistrus dolichopterusFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Flat flyer pleco
Pseudolithoxus anthraxFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Galaxy panaqolus
Panaqolus albomaculatusFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Orange seam pleco
Hemiancistrus guahiborumFreshwater5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)