Candy Striped Pleco (L015)

Care at a glance

Overview

A small, easygoing pleco for a tank around 115 liters. Feed a varied omnivore diet of sinking pellets, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp, plus some algae wafers and blanched vegetables, since it needs protein and will not survive on algae alone. Generally peaceful but a little territorial around its cave, which makes it a good community choice.

In the wild

Lives in soft, slightly acidic, moderately flowing Amazon waters with submerged wood and rocky cover. It is an omnivore that scavenges biofilm, small invertebrates, and some plant matter, and it is not an efficient algae eater. Wants driftwood, caves, and gentle current.

Good to know

One of the earliest L-numbers, L015 is the described species Peckoltia vittata. It carries bold cream-to-gold bands over a deep brown body. Peckoltia are small, cave-dwelling plecos closely related to the Hypancistrus group.

Did you know

As one of the very first plecos to get an L-number, the candy stripe has been in the hobby since the L-system was invented in the late 1980s.

Related species

• 

  Clown peckoltia (L134)

  Peckoltia compta

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• 

  Bristlenose pleco

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• 

  Whiptail catfish

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• 

  Butterfly Pleco (L168)

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• Starlight Bristlenose Pleco (L183)

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• 

  Red lizard whiptail

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