TankBud

Leopard sailfin pleco

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

Also known as clown sailfin pleco, Marble sailfin pleco

FreshwaterFish

Leopard sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

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
Diet
Herbivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
No record
Rarity
Common
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Brazil, Venezuela

Overview

The leopard sailfin pleco is a big, peaceful catfish for the bottom of a very large tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish to keep.

Did you know

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

Caring for the leopard sailfin pleco

Give a leopard sailfin pleco a large tank of at least 100 gal (380 L). These fish get huge, so treat that as a realistic minimum, not a goal. Furnish the tank with plenty of driftwood, hiding spots and a cave it can retreat into during the day.

Keep the water at 72 to 86°F (22 to 30°C) and a pH of 6.5 to 7.5, with good current. It 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, such as zucchini and cucumber. It is a wood-grazer that rasps on wood and other surfaces. The driftwood is more than decoration, since it gives the fish something to chew on.

The leopard sailfin pleco is peaceful but solitary, and it wants its own space. Watch its tank mates, since a big adult can be clumsy and pushy around the bottom. It is not bred commercially at any scale for the trade.

Good to know

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae, and one of the larger plecos. It has a tall, sail-like dorsal fin and a leopard-spotted pattern. Like other Pterygoplichthys, it can gulp air and survive low-oxygen conditions for a while.

In the wild

Leopard sailfin plecos come from the Amazon in Brazil and Venezuela. They live in flowing rivers among submerged wood and rocky structure.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The leopard sailfin pleco is a peaceful, solitary 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 leopard sailfin pleco need?

A leopard sailfin pleco needs at least 100 gal (380 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a leopard sailfin pleco need?

A leopard sailfin pleco is comfortable at 72–86°F (22–30°C) with a pH of 6.5–7.5.

What does a leopard sailfin pleco eat?

A leopard sailfin pleco eats a plant-based diet of algae wafers and blanched vegetables, such as zucchini and cucumber. It also rasps on driftwood, so keep some in the tank for it to chew on.

How big does a leopard sailfin pleco get?

An adult leopard sailfin pleco reaches about 18.9 in (48 cm).

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