TankBud

Rubber pleco

Parancistrus aurantiacus

Also known as Chubby pleco, Gold rubber pleco

FreshwaterFish

Rubber pleco (Parancistrus aurantiacus)
(c) Max Chumachenko, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
8.7 in
22 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Tocantins and Xingu basins, Brazil

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 best with a little experience.

Did you know

Some rubber plecos are plain gray, while others are a solid marigold yellow, yet both are the same species. The species name aurantiacus, meaning golden or orange, was chosen with the yellow form in mind. That form also gives the trade name gold rubber pleco.

Caring for the rubber pleco

Give a rubber pleco a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), built around piles of smooth rock over sand. Leave flat gaps, a flat cave or a rock overhang for it to wedge into and claim, and add some driftwood.

Keep the water warm, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It is not fussy about chemistry, but it wants clean, well-oxygenated water with good current.

Feed it as an omnivore that leans to vegetables. Offer algae wafers, sinking pellets and blanched zucchini or cucumber, with occasional meaty frozen foods.

The rubber pleco is solitary and best kept one to a tank. It is peaceful toward other fish and suits calm communities of midwater species. Breeding is of moderate difficulty. It is a cave spawner, and the male guards the eggs until they hatch.

Good to know

The rubber pleco, Parancistrus aurantiacus, belongs to the family Loricariidae. It is broad-headed and wide-mouthed, with a flattened build. Stores often sell it as L056, but that number was given to a different, undescribed pleco.

In the wild

The rubber pleco lives in the Tocantins and Xingu basins of Brazil. It shelters under rounded stones in the warm, flowing water of its rocky home.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The rubber 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 rubber pleco need?

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

What temperature and pH does a rubber pleco need?

A rubber pleco is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a rubber pleco eat?

A rubber pleco is an omnivore that leans to vegetables. It eats algae wafers, blanched zucchini, cucumber and sinking pellets, plus a meaty frozen food now and then.

How big does a rubber pleco get?

An adult rubber pleco reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).

How does a rubber pleco breed?

Rubber plecos are cave spawners, and the male guards the eggs until they hatch. Breeding them is of moderate difficulty.

Related species