TankBud

King tiger pleco (L066)

Hypancistrus seideli

Also known as L066, L333, L236, L399, L400, King tiger plec, Scribble pleco, Network pleco, Hypancistrus sp. L066

FreshwaterFish

King tiger pleco (L066) (Hypancistrus seideli)
Elizabeth Barrett / animal.photos · Used with permission

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
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Rio Xingu, Para, Brazil

Overview

The king tiger pleco (L066) is a mostly peaceful dwarf pleco for a rocky tank with strong flow. It is best with some experience.

Did you know

The king tiger pleco (L066) has a black-and-white pattern unique to each fish, like a fingerprint. That is part of why the L number coding system caught on for telling these Hypancistrus apart. The L066 tag dates from when the trade numbered plecos faster than scientists could name them, and it simply stuck.

Caring for the king tiger pleco (L066)

Give the king tiger pleco (L066) a tank of at least 40 gal (150 L), with rockwork and caves over a hard substrate. Give each fish its own tight cave to claim and defend.

Keep the water at 79 to 84°F (26 to 29°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Push strong flow with around four to five times turnover, and keep the oxygen high. They are sensitive to nitrate and will not tolerate it building, so do large water changes every week. A mature tank with stable water suits them best.

Despite the suckermouth, they are carnivores, not algae eaters. Feed meaty foods like bloodworm and mysis.

They are mostly peaceful but territorial with their own kind. They get on fine with other calm fish that do not crowd the bottom. The male seals himself in a cave and guards the eggs and fry until they are free swimming. They are bred in captivity often enough.

Good to know

Hypancistrus seideli belongs to the family Loricariidae. It was described in 2025, gathering the trade's L066, L236, L333, L399 and L400 into one highly variable species. The name honors the aquarist Ingo Seidel. Most fish in the trade are wild caught, and with good care they can live well over ten years.

In the wild

King tiger plecos come from the Rio Xingu in Para, Brazil, a fast, rocky river where they live among the rapids. The water there runs warm, clean and very oxygenated.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The king tiger pleco (L066) is a mostly peaceful, social 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

What size tank does a king tiger pleco (L066) need?

A king tiger pleco (L066) needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a king tiger pleco (L066) need?

A king tiger pleco (L066) is comfortable at 79–84°F (26–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.0.

What does a king tiger pleco (L066) eat?

A king tiger pleco (L066) is a carnivore, not an algae eater, despite its suckermouth. Feed it meaty foods like bloodworm and mysis.

How big does a king tiger pleco (L066) get?

An adult king tiger pleco (L066) reaches about 5.1 in (13 cm).

How does a king tiger pleco (L066) breed?

A king tiger pleco (L066) spawns in a cave. The male seals himself in and guards the eggs and fry until they are free swimming. It is bred in captivity often enough.

Related species