Eight-spotted leporinus

Leporinus octomaculatus

Also known as Octomaculatus leporinus

FreshwaterFish

Eight-spotted leporinus (Leporinus octomaculatus) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 73–82°F (23–28°C)
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 5.1 in (13 cm)
Minimum tank: 53 gal (200 L)
Temperament: Mostly peaceful
Social behavior: Social
Tankmates: Tankmates with caution
Swim level: Middle
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Tapajós basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Family: Anostomidae

Overview

The eight-spotted leporinus is one of the more manageable members of its genus, staying near 13 centimeters rather than growing into a tank-buster. It is an active, social fish that can be kept singly or in a group; as with other leporinus, watch for squabbling and fin-nipping, so give it room and keep it with sturdy tankmates rather than timid or long-finned ones. It grazes constantly, so use hard decor and tough or plastic plants only. Feed a varied omnivore diet of sinking pellets, algae wafers, vegetables, and frozen foods. A tank of around 200 liters or more suits it, and a tight lid is a must.

In the wild

This fish lives in clear, fast tributaries of the upper Tapajos basin in Mato Grosso, Brazil, over current-washed sand and stone. Give it an open sandy floor, smooth rocks, driftwood, and brisk, well-oxygenated flow. Keep temperatures warm at about 23 to 28 C and the pH from soft and acidic to neutral, roughly 5.5 to 7.5.

Good to know

A headstander in the family Anostomidae, it was described in 1993 and reaches around 13 centimeters, small for a genus that includes fish three times its length. It is named for the eight rounded dark blotches spaced along its body. Aquarium breeding is not recorded.

Did you know

The name is a literal count: octomaculatus means eight-spotted, and the fish carries exactly that many rounded dark marks along its flank, so you can check the tally yourself.