TankBud

Queen arabesque pleco (L260)

Hypancistrus sp. L260

Also known as L260, Queen Arabesque Plec

FreshwaterFish

Queen arabesque pleco (L260) (Hypancistrus sp. L260)

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
Diet
Carnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Common
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Rio Tapajos in Para, Brazil.

Overview

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) is a dwarf pleco for the bottom of a calm community tank. It is best with a little experience.

Did you know

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) has no scientific name yet. It is an undescribed Hypancistrus, known only by its L-number.

Caring for the queen arabesque pleco (L260)

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) fits a tank as small as 20 gal (75 L). That makes it one of the more apartment-friendly L-numbers. Give it fine, narrow caves, some flow and good oxygen. Keep the water at 79 to 86°F (26 to 30°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5.

It is a carnivore rather than an algae grazer. Feed a protein diet of sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and gel foods. Do not use algae wafers as a staple.

It is peaceful and fine alone. It also suits a group of its own kind or a calm community tank.

It spawns in caves, and breeding it is moderately hard. A bonded pair will often breed in a community tank if given a snug cave the male can guard. It has been captive bred in the hobby for years.

Good to know

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) belongs to the family Loricariidae. A maze of thin black and white lines gives it the arabesque name.

In the wild

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) lives in clear, fast, rocky shallows of the Rio Tapajos in Para, Brazil. It shelters in cracks and under stones and hunts insect larvae and other small invertebrates in the current.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The 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.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

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.

What does a queen arabesque pleco (L260) eat?

A queen arabesque pleco (L260) is a carnivore, not an algae grazer. It eats sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, brine shrimp and gel foods, and algae wafers should not be its staple.

How big does a queen arabesque pleco (L260) get?

An adult queen arabesque pleco (L260) reaches about 3.9 in (10 cm).

How does a queen arabesque pleco (L260) breed?

The queen arabesque pleco (L260) spawns in a snug cave that the male guards. A bonded pair will often breed in a community tank, though breeding is moderately hard. It has been captive bred in the hobby for years.

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