Scarlet cactus pleco (L025)
Pseudacanthicus pirarara
Also known as L025, Scarlet Pleco, Red Devil Pleco, Pseudacanthicus sp. L025
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 15.7 in
- 40 cm
- Minimum tank
- 119 gal
- 450 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Difficult
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Xingu and its tributaries in Para, Brazil.
Overview
A large, heavily armored pleco needing a tank of 450 liters or more with lots of caves and strong current. It is a true carnivore, so feed frozen or fresh prawn, mussel, chopped fish, mysis, and bloodworms along with quality sinking foods, not a vegetable-based diet. Aggressive and very territorial, so house it with robust tankmates and give it a cave it can defend as its own.
In the wild
Lives in warm, clear, fast rocky reaches of the Rio Xingu, often near rapids, sheltering under boulders and in rock caves. It is a carnivore, using its rasping mouth to work over rock and wood but feeding mainly on animal matter such as invertebrates and carrion. Wants strong flow, high oxygen, and heavy rockwork with cave territories.
Good to know
Long traded as L025, this fish was formally described as Pseudacanthicus pirarara. Members of the genus are the cactus or spiny plecos, armored with rows of sharp odontodes down the flanks and fins. Adults show black spotting on a dark body with deep red-orange fins.
Did you know
The rows of stiff spines are not just for show, and a big cactus pleco can wedge itself so firmly into a cave with them that it is nearly impossible to remove without harming the fish.
Common questions
What size tank does a Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) need?
A Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) needs at least 119 gal (450 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) need?
A Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) get?
An adult Scarlet cactus pleco (L025) reaches about 15.7 in (40 cm).
Related species
13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)81–88°F (27–31°C)Leopard cactus pleco (L114)
Pseudacanthicus cf. leopardus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
13.8 in (35 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Red fin cactus pleco
Pseudacanthicus pitanga
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11.8 in (30 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Spiny monster pleco
Pseudacanthicus spinosus
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13.8 in (35 cm)106 gal (400 L)79–86°F (26–30°C)Sunshine pleco (L014)
Scobinancistrus aureatus
13.8 in (35 cm) · 106 gal (400 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)85 gal (320 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)Common pleco
Hypostomus plecostomus
15.7 in (40 cm) · 85 gal (320 L)
15.7 in (40 cm)119 gal (450 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Gold spot sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
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