Blue phantom pleco (L128)

Hemiancistrus sp. L128

Also known as L128, Blue Phantom Plec

FreshwaterFish

Blue phantom pleco (L128) (Hemiancistrus sp. L128)

Care at a glance

Temperature: 81–86°F; 27–30°C
pH: 6.0–7.4
Adult size: 9.8 in; 25 cm
Minimum tank: 66 gal; 250 L

Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Diet: Omnivore
Difficulty: Difficult
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Family: Loricariidae
Origin: Rio Orinoco drainage of Colombia and Venezuela.

Overview

The blue phantom pleco (L128) is a large, warmth-loving pleco for the bottom of a big, fast-flowing tank. It is for experienced keepers.

Did you know

The blue phantom pleco (L128) needs noticeably warmer water than most plecos. Keeping it too cool is a common reason imported fish fail to settle.

Caring for the blue phantom pleco (L128)

Keep the blue phantom pleco (L128) in a tank of at least 66 gal (250 L), with vigorous flow and high oxygen. Give it rock caves to claim.

Keep the water very warm, at 81 to 86°F (27 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.4. It is sensitive to poor water quality and low oxygen, which makes it one of the trickier phantom plecos to keep well.

Feed it heavily on protein, such as sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, mysis and shrimp. Offer greens only occasionally, since it shows little interest in algae.

It is a solitary bottom dweller, mostly peaceful and safe with community fish. Breeding it is hard.

Good to know

The blue phantom pleco (L128) is still undescribed and traded only by its L-number. It is a close relative of the green phantom, L200. Adults show a deep blue to blue-black body covered in small pale blue or white spots. The blue varies in intensity with the individual, its mood and its diet.

In the wild

The blue phantom pleco (L128) comes from the Orinoco drainage of Colombia and Venezuela. It lives in very warm, rocky, fast-flowing reaches where the water sits around 28 to 32°C. It grazes aufwuchs off submerged rock, but that film is loaded with small crustaceans and insect larvae. Its wild diet is closer to omnivore than herbivore.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The blue phantom pleco (L128) is a mostly peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a blue phantom pleco (L128) need?

A blue phantom pleco (L128) needs at least 66 gal (250 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a blue phantom pleco (L128) need?

A blue phantom pleco (L128) is comfortable at 81–86°F (27–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.4.

What does a blue phantom pleco (L128) eat?

A blue phantom pleco (L128) eats mostly protein, such as sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms, mysis and shrimp. It needs greens only occasionally, since it shows little interest in algae.