Butterfly pleco (L168)
Dekeyseria brachyura
Also known as L168, Demini Butterfly Pleco, Butterfly Plec
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 77–84°F
- 25–29°C
- pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Adult size
- 5.5 in
- 14 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Negro basin, including the Rio Demini, in Amazonas, Brazil.
Overview
A flat, disc-shaped pleco for a tank around 150 liters with soft water and good flow. It is primarily a grazer, so keep vegetable matter, algae wafers, blanched greens, and driftwood available, with only occasional protein. Peaceful and community safe, though it wants clean, oxygen-rich water to stay healthy.
In the wild
Lives in soft, acidic, tannin-stained streams and tributaries of the Rio Negro with moderate to strong flow. It is an omnivore that leans on aufwuchs and vegetable matter, grazing biofilm and algae off wood and rock while taking some meaty food. Wants well-oxygenated moving water, driftwood, and shaded hides.
Good to know
Described as Dekeyseria brachyura and sometimes placed in the genus Zonancistrus, it can change color quickly to match its surroundings. On pale sand it shows bold dark bands on a cream body, and on dark substrate it can turn almost solid black within minutes. That chameleon trick is unusual among plecos.
Did you know
Keepers use its color-change ability as a mood read, since a stressed butterfly pleco often blanches or darkens far faster than it changes for camouflage.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Butterfly pleco (L168) is a 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.
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Black acara
Cichlasoma bimaculatum
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)
Spotted raphael catfish
Agamyxis pectinifrons
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)72–79°F (22–26°C)
Celebes halfbeak
Nomorhamphus liemi
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Noboli distichodus
Distichodus noboli
Freshwater7.5 in (19 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Spotted hoplo
Megalechis thoracata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)64–82°F (18–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Butterfly pleco (L168) need?
A Butterfly pleco (L168) needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Butterfly pleco (L168) need?
A Butterfly pleco (L168) is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 5.5–7.0.
How big does a Butterfly pleco (L168) get?
An adult Butterfly pleco (L168) reaches about 5.5 in (14 cm).
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Atabapo butterfly pleco
Dekeyseria picta
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Bola pleco
Peckoltia bachi
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Flat flyer pleco
Pseudolithoxus anthrax
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)53 gal (200 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Galaxy panaqolus
Panaqolus albomaculatus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 53 gal (200 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Orange seam pleco
Hemiancistrus guahiborum
5.5 in (14 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Starlight bristlenose pleco (L183)
Ancistrus dolichopterus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)