Rhino pleco

Pterygoplichthys scrophus

Also known as L056a rhino, Chocolate rhino pleco

FreshwaterFish

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–84°F (25–29°C)
pH: 6.0–7.4
Adult size: 12.6 in (32 cm)
Minimum tank: 119 gal (450 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Easy
Breeding: Hard
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Marañón and Ucayali basins, Peru
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

The rhino pleco is a large, peaceful sailfin with raised ridges over the nose that give it a prehistoric, rhinoceros-like face. It is an easy, hardy fish but grows to furniture size, so plan for a big tank from the start. It is solitary and best kept one to a tank; it ignores midwater tankmates and suits large, robust communities. It patrols the bottom and eats mostly plant matter, so feed algae wafers, blanched courgette and other vegetables, and sinking pellets, with driftwood to graze. Its appetite and waste load call for strong filtration and a tank of around 450 liters.

In the wild

Pterygoplichthys scrophus comes from the Maranon and Ucayali basins of Peru, living in slow rivers and floodplain lakes over soft bottoms. It is undemanding about decor, but appreciates large driftwood and some cover, over sand, with open room to move. Keep it warm at 25 to 29 C and across a broad, tolerant range around pH 6.0 to 7.4. Water quality and volume matter more than fine-tuning chemistry, since this is a hardy fish from calm, slightly murky water.

Good to know

Pterygoplichthys scrophus is a sailfin pleco of Loricariidae, reaching about 32 centimeters and carrying the tall, many-rayed dorsal fin the group is known for. Raised ridges above the nostrils, plus a crest of armour along the top of the head, give the profile that names it. Sailfin plecos spawn in burrows dug into riverbanks, which home aquaria cannot provide, so captive breeding is rated hard even though the fish is easy to keep.

Did you know

The ridges rising above its nostrils sit right where a rhinoceros carries its horn, and a bony crest runs back along the skull. The face looks less like a fish than something drawn on a cave wall.