King tiger pleco (L066)
Hypancistrus sp. L066
Also known as L066, L333, King tiger plec
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–84°F (26–29°C)
- pH
- 6.0–7.0
- Adult size
- 5.1 in (13 cm)
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal (150 L)
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Origin
- Rio Xingu, Para, Brazil
- Family
- Loricariidae
Overview
Keep them in a tank of at least 150 liters with the water held at 26 to 29 C and a pH of 6 to 7. They are mostly peaceful bottom dwellers but territorial with their own kind, so give each fish its own tight cave to claim and defend. Do weekly large water changes, since they will not tolerate building nitrate, and keep the flow strong and the oxygen high. Despite the suckermouth they are carnivores, not algae eaters, so feed meaty foods like bloodworm and mysis. They get on fine with other calm fish that do not crowd the bottom.
In the wild
King tiger plecos come from the Rio Xingu in Para, Brazil, a fast, rocky river where they live among the rapids. That water runs warm, clean, and very oxygenated, so set the tank up to copy it. Use rockwork and caves over a hard substrate, push strong flow with around four to five times turnover, and keep the water at 26 to 29 C with a pH of 6 to 7. They are sensitive to nitrate, so a mature tank with stable water suits them best.
Good to know
This is Hypancistrus sp. L066, a dwarf pleco in the family Loricariidae, reaching about 13 cm as an adult. It is a cave spawner, with the male sealing himself in the cave and guarding the eggs and fry until they are free swimming. Most fish in the trade are wild caught, though they are bred in captivity often enough. With good care they can live well over ten years.
Did you know
The black-and-white pattern is unique to each fish, like a fingerprint, which is part of why the L number coding system caught on for telling these Hypancistrus apart. The L066 tag dates back to when the trade started numbering plecos faster than scientists could formally name them, and that working name simply stuck.
Where to buy
Some links may not be the exact species or variety.
- Aquatic Arts Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with an arrive-alive guarantee
- LiveAquaria Freshwater and saltwater fish, inverts and corals
- Imperial Tropicals Freshwater fish and inverts bred at a Florida hatchery
- Dan's Fish Freshwater fish, shrimp and snails with a live arrival guarantee
…or ask your local fish store.
Appears in
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Zebra pleco
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