Leopard sailfin pleco

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

Also known as clown sailfin pleco

FreshwaterFish

Leopard sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) — Chmee2 · CC BY 3.0

Care at a glance

Temperature: 72–86°F (22–30°C)
pH: 6.5–7.5
Adult size: 18.9 in (48 cm)
Minimum tank: 100 gal (380 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: No record
Rarity: Common
Origin: Brazil, Venezuela
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

This is a peaceful but solitary bottom dweller that wants its own space and a cave to retreat into during the day. It rasps on wood and surfaces and produces a lot of waste, so strong filtration and frequent water changes are a must. Feed a plant-based diet of algae wafers and blanched vegetables like zucchini and cucumber, and offer driftwood to chew on. Watch tankmates, since a big adult can be clumsy and pushy around the bottom.

In the wild

Leopard sailfin plecos come from the Amazon in Brazil and Venezuela, living in flowing rivers among submerged wood and rocky structure. They are wood-grazers, so driftwood is more than decoration for them. Give them a large tank with plenty of wood, hiding spots, and good current. These fish get huge, so 380 liters is a realistic minimum, not a goal.

Good to know

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae, marked by a tall, sail-like dorsal fin and a leopard-spotted pattern. It is one of the larger plecos, reaching about 48 cm. Like other Pterygoplichthys it can gulp air and survive low-oxygen conditions for a while. It is not bred commercially at any scale for the trade.

Did you know

Outside its native range this pleco has become a serious invasive species. In warm regions it digs nesting burrows into riverbanks, and large populations can undermine and collapse the banks, which is one reason releasing aquarium fish is such a problem.