Leopard cactus pleco (L114)
Pseudacanthicus cf. leopardus
Also known as L114, LDA07, Demini Leopard Cactus Pleco, Pseudacanthicus leopardus
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 81–88°F
- 27–31°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.2
- Adult size
- 13.8 in
- 35 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Very rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Demini, a tributary of the Rio Negro, in Amazonas, Brazil.
Overview
The leopard cactus pleco (L114) is a large, spiny bottom dweller for a big, warm tank. It is a fish for experienced keepers only.
Did you know
The leopard cactus pleco (L114) runs warmer than most plecos. Kept too cool, it often sulks and refuses food.
Caring for the leopard cactus pleco (L114)
Give the leopard cactus pleco (L114) a tank of at least 106 gal (400 L), with heavy cover of rock and lots of caves. Keep it at 81 to 88°F (27 to 31°C) with a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Run strong flow and keep plenty of oxygen in the water.
Feed a carnivore diet of frozen or fresh prawn, mussel, chopped fish and bloodworms, plus quality sinking foods. Do not make vegetables its staple.
Keep one per tank. It is an aggressive fish and territorial toward its own kind and other cactus plecos. It usually tolerates dissimilar tank mates when it has a cave to hold, but choose them with caution. Breeding it is hard.
Good to know
This pleco is traded as L114 and LDA07, and it is tentatively linked to Pseudacanthicus leopardus. That is why it is usually written Pseudacanthicus cf. leopardus. It shows a bold leopard pattern of dark blotches on a gray body with reddish fin edges. It also carries the sharp cactus spines typical of the genus.
In the wild
The leopard cactus pleco (L114) comes from the Rio Demini, a tributary of the Rio Negro in Amazonas, Brazil. It lives in warm, soft, slightly acidic water, sheltering among rock and wood in flowing stretches. In the wild it is mainly a carnivore, taking protein and invertebrates and eating plant matter only when little else is around.
Common questions
What size tank does a leopard cactus pleco (L114) need?
A leopard cactus pleco (L114) needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a leopard cactus pleco (L114) need?
A leopard cactus pleco (L114) is comfortable at 81–88°F (27–31°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.
What does a leopard cactus pleco (L114) eat?
A leopard cactus pleco (L114) eats a carnivore diet of frozen or fresh prawn, mussel, chopped fish and bloodworms. Add quality sinking foods, but do not make vegetables its staple.
How big does a leopard cactus pleco (L114) get?
An adult leopard cactus pleco (L114) reaches about 13.8 in (35 cm).
Related species
15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Scarlet cactus pleco (L025)
Pseudacanthicus pirarara
15.7 in (40 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Red fin cactus pleco
Pseudacanthicus pitanga
13.8 in (35 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Spiny monster pleco
Pseudacanthicus spinosus
11.8 in (30 cm) · 119 gal (450 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Sunshine pleco (L014)
Scobinancistrus aureatus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
9.8 in (25 cm)66 gal (250 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Vampire pleco (L029)
Leporacanthicus galaxias
9.8 in (25 cm) · 66 gal (250 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Caquetá whiptail
Spatuloricaria caquetae
13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)