Queen arabesque pleco (L260)
Hypancistrus sp. L260
Also known as L260, Queen Arabesque Plec
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 3.9 in
- 10 cm
- Minimum tank
- 20 gal
- 75 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Tapajos in Para, Brazil.
Overview
A dwarf pleco that fits a tank as small as 75 liters, which makes it one of the more apartment-friendly L-numbers. Feed a protein diet of sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp, and gel foods, not algae wafers as a staple. Peaceful and well suited to a group of its own kind or a calm community with narrow spawning caves.
In the wild
Lives in clear, fast, rocky shallows of the Tapajos, sheltering in cracks and under stones. Like other Hypancistrus it is a carnivore rather than an algae grazer, hunting insect larvae and other small invertebrates in the current. Give it fine caves, some flow, and good oxygen.
Good to know
An undescribed Hypancistrus known only as L260, wearing a maze of thin black and white lines that give it the arabesque name. It stays small at around 9 to 10 cm. It has been captive bred in the hobby for years.
Did you know
Because it is a small cave-spawning Hypancistrus, a bonded pair will often breed in a community tank if given a snug cave the male can guard.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Queen arabesque pleco (L260) is a 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.
Vampire shrimp
Atya gabonensis
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bloodfin tetra
Aphyocharax anisitsi
Freshwater2.2 in (5.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Kuekenthal's halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon kuekenthali
Freshwater3.3 in (8.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–81°F (23–27°C)
Common spiny loach
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)72–82°F (22–28°C)
Marble wood shrimp
Atya scabra
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Aurora tetra
Moenkhausia aurora
Freshwater2 in (5.2 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Queen arabesque pleco (L260) need?
A Queen arabesque pleco (L260) needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Queen arabesque pleco (L260) need?
A Queen arabesque pleco (L260) is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Queen arabesque pleco (L260) get?
An adult Queen arabesque pleco (L260) reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).
Related species
3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Bandit pleco
Hypancistrus furunculus
3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.9 in (10 cm)42 gal (160 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Tiny spot pleco
Hypancistrus lunaorum
3.9 in (10 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.7 in (12 cm)42 gal (160 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Orinoco polka-dot pleco
Hypancistrus contradens
4.7 in (12 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)15 gal (55 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
3.1 in (8 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
2.4 in (6 cm)42 gal (160 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Pearl-spotted angel pleco
Hypancistrus margaritatus
2.4 in (6 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Colombian zebra pleco (L129)
Hypancistrus debilittera
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)