Orinoco dwarf pleco

Peckoltia lineola

Also known as L202, Lineola pleco

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–84°F (25–29°C)
pH: 5.5–7.0
Adult size: 4.3 in (11 cm)
Minimum tank: 29 gal (110 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Upper Orinoco, Venezuela
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

This is a compact, soft-water dwarf pleco, best kept singly since it does not need its own kind and males can be territorial in close quarters. It is peaceful toward other fish and keeps to caves and wood, coming out to graze and forage. A varied diet of sinking wafers, pellets, vegetables, and the odd frozen treat covers its needs. Keep it with small, gentle community fish. A tank of at least 110 liters with caves, driftwood, and gentle flow is plenty.

In the wild

It lives in the Ventuari basin of the upper Orinoco in Venezuela, in rocky riffles with clear, warm, flowing water. Recreate that with rounded stones, caves, driftwood, and steady oxygenated current. Keep the water soft and warm, around 25 to 29 C with a low pH of 5.5 to 7.0. Clean, well-oxygenated conditions keep this riffle fish healthy.

Good to know

Peckoltia lineola is a small loricariid that reaches about 11 centimeters, patterned with fine dark lines and saddles over its back. It is sold as L202 and is listed as Vulnerable in the wild. It cave-spawns, and breeding is of moderate difficulty.

Did you know

Its name lineola means small line, but the line it refers to is not the pattern on its back: the describer named it for fine lines on one of the bones in its skull, easy to miss without a close look.