Rubber pleco

Care at a glance

Overview

The rubber pleco is a broad, low-slung, gentle pleco that wedges under stones and shuffles between them like a small delivery van. It is solitary and best kept one to a tank, giving it a flat cave or rock overhang to claim. It works the bottom and is peaceful toward other fish, suiting calm communities of midwater species. Feed it as an omnivore that leans vegetable: algae wafers, blanched courgette and cucumber, and sinking pellets, with occasional meaty frozen foods. It likes warm water with good flow and cover, so provide rock piles and driftwood, and allow a tank of around 300 liters.

In the wild

Parancistrus aurantiacus lives in the Tocantins and Xingu basins of Brazil, sheltering under rounded stones in warm, flowing water. Build the tank around piles of smooth rock that leave flat gaps to wedge into, plus driftwood, over sand. Keep it warm at 25 to 29 C and across a tolerant range near pH 6.0 to 7.5, clean and well oxygenated with good current. It is not fussy about chemistry, but it does want oxygen and cover of the kind its rocky home provides.

Good to know

Parancistrus aurantiacus belongs to Loricariidae and reaches about 22 centimeters, broad-headed and wide-mouthed with a flattened build. The species name means golden or orange, and while many are dark grey, some individuals are a solid marigold yellow, which is where the gold rubber pleco name comes from. Breeding is of moderate difficulty; it is a cave spawner, with the male guarding the eggs until they hatch.

Did you know

Some rubber plecos are plain grey, while others are a vivid golden yellow, yet both are the same species. The name aurantiacus, meaning golden, was chosen with that striking colour form in mind.

Tank mates

Rubber pleco is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.

• 

  Hi-fin green phantom pleco

  Baryancistrus demantoides

  Freshwater

  7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Thicklip gymnogeophagus

  Gymnogeophagus labiatus

  Freshwater

  7.1 in (18 cm)79 gal (300 L)61–79°F (16–26°C)

• 

  Papa panaque

  Panaque bathyphilus

  Freshwater

  9.8 in (25 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Red bruno pleco

  Hypostomus soniae

  Freshwater

  7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Fog talking catfish

  Rhinodoras boehlkei

  Freshwater

  6.7 in (17 cm)79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
• Macushi pleco

  Hypostomus macushi

  Freshwater

  7.9 in (20 cm)79 gal (300 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Related species

• Xingu peppermint pleco

  Parancistrus nudiventris

  Freshwater

  8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)81–88°F (27–31°C)
• Circular whiptail

  Planiloricaria cryptodon

  Freshwater

  8.7 in (22 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Ghost pleco

  Ancistomus snethlageae

  Freshwater

  8.7 in (22 cm)66 gal (250 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
• Peruvian royal whiptail

  Sturisoma nigrirostrum

  Freshwater

  8.7 in (22 cm)66 gal (250 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Tamana royal farlowella

  Sturisomatichthys tamanae

  Freshwater

  8.7 in (22 cm)53 gal (200 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
• Llanero whiptail

  Lamontichthys llanero

  Freshwater

  9.1 in (23 cm)79 gal (300 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)