Clown peckoltia (L134)

Care at a glance

Overview

Keep one per tank in 110 liters or more, since they are mostly peaceful toward other species but territorial toward their own kind. Each fish claims roughly a 30 by 30 cm patch, so only try more than one in a large tank of 120 cm or longer with many caves. They are nocturnal bottom dwellers that hide by day, so expect to see them most after lights out. Hold the water warm at 25 to 29 C, soft, and at a pH of 6 to 7.5, and keep it well oxygenated. They are omnivores leaning carnivore and not a reliable algae eater, so offer sinking pellets and algae wafers plus frozen meaty foods like bloodworm, mysis, and artemia, along with blanched veg. They make a calm tankmate for other peaceful fish rather than a centerpiece.

In the wild

Clown peckoltia, also known as L134, come from the Rio Tapajos and Rio Jamanxim basins in Brazil, part of the wider Amazon. These are warm, well-oxygenated rivers with sandy or smooth rock bottoms and plenty of submerged wood. Give them a tank of at least 110 liters with a footprint around 75 to 80 cm, a sand or smooth substrate, driftwood to rasp on, and caves or rockwork for cover. Keep the water warm at 25 to 29 C, leaning toward the upper end near 27 to 28 C, soft, and slightly acidic to neutral at a pH of 6 to 7.5.

Good to know

This is Peckoltia compta, a dwarf to medium pleco in the family Loricariidae. Adults reach about 12 cm standard length, with hobby reports of 9 to 15 cm total length. It is a cave spawner, and captive breeding is achievable but moderately difficult.

Did you know

The L in L134 is a trade code, not a scientific name. Plecos enter the hobby faster than ichthyologists can describe them, so each new import gets an L-number from a German aquarium magazine until it earns a proper species name. This one picked up the common names Leopard Frog and Imperial Tiger pleco along the way before becoming Peckoltia compta.

Related species

• 

  Candy Striped Pleco (L015)

  Peckoltia vittata

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Blue Panaque (L239)

  Baryancistrus beggini

  4.7 in (12 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)

• 

  Flash Pleco (L204)

  Panaqolus albivermis

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  King tiger pleco (L066)

  Hypancistrus sp. L066

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)
• Tiger Pleco (L002)

  Panaqolus sp. L002

  5.1 in (13 cm)40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

• 

  Bulldog pleco

  Chaetostoma formosae

  4.3 in (11 cm)40 gal (150 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)