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Red bruno pleco

Hypostomus soniae

Also known as L137, Blue-eyed red pleco

FreshwaterFish

Red bruno pleco (Hypostomus soniae)

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.0–7.2
Adult size
7.9 in
20 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Hard
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Rio Tapajós, Brazil

Overview

The red bruno pleco is a colorful Hypostomus, a peaceful but substantial fish for the bottom of a roomy tank. It suits keepers with a little experience.

Did you know

The red bruno pleco breaks the Hypostomus pattern. Most of its relatives are plain brown and easy to overlook, while it has cinnamon-red fins over pale blue eyes. The trade named it twice for that look, as the red bruno and the blue-eyed red pleco.

Caring for the red bruno pleco

Give a red bruno pleco a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), since it wants space. Furnish it with driftwood and rounded stones over sand, which offer cover and grazing surface. Leave open lanes for it to patrol.

Keep the water warm, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C), and soft to neutral, with a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Its heavy waste calls for strong filtration and frequent water changes to hold quality high. Good flow and oxygen suit it as well.

The red bruno pleco is an omnivore with a big appetite. Give it driftwood to graze, plus blanched vegetables, sinking wafers and some meaty frozen foods.

It is solitary and best kept one to a tank, since it can be territorial toward other plecos. It ignores midwater tank mates, so pair it with roomy community fish rather than delicate nano species. Like most big Hypostomus, it is rarely bred in aquariums, and captive spawning is considered hard.

Good to know

The red bruno pleco, Hypostomus soniae, belongs to the large pleco genus Hypostomus in the family Loricariidae. It carries the trade code L137.

In the wild

The red bruno pleco comes from the clear waters of the Rio Tapajós in Brazil, a briskly moving river. There it grazes over rock and submerged wood.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The red bruno 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 red bruno pleco need?

A red bruno pleco needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a red bruno pleco need?

A red bruno pleco is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.

What does a red bruno pleco eat?

A red bruno pleco is an omnivore with a big appetite. It grazes on driftwood and eats blanched vegetables, sinking wafers and some meaty frozen foods.

How big does a red bruno pleco get?

An adult red bruno pleco reaches about 7.9 in (20 cm).

Related species