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Spotted pleco

Hypostomus punctatus

FreshwaterFish

Spotted pleco (Hypostomus punctatus)
Sona1999 at English Wikipedia · Public domain

Care at a glance

Temperature
72–82°F
22–28°C
pH
6.0–7.8
Adult size
11.8 in
30 cm
Minimum tank
79 gal
300 L
Temperament
Mostly peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner
Rarity
Common
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
South America: coastal drainages of southeastern Brazil

Overview

The spotted pleco is a big catfish for the bottom of a large, strongly filtered tank. It is a step up from the easiest fish.

Did you know

The spotted pleco's mouth works like a suction cup. It lets the fish cling to rocks and wood in strong current while it rasps off algae and detritus. It also rasps at driftwood, and many keepers find that a piece of bogwood slowly wears down over the years.

Caring for the spotted pleco

The spotted pleco grows fast and gets big, despite its small size at purchase. It is often sold simply as a common pleco and can outgrow a casual setup. Plan on a tank of at least 79 gal (300 L), and larger if you can manage it. Never release one into local waterways, and check your local rules, since large plecos are restricted in some regions.

Give it sand or smooth gravel, driftwood to graze and chew on, and snug caves to hole up in by day. Its bulk can uproot plants and knock over decor, so anchor things down. It is hardy on water chemistry and does fine at 72 to 82°F (22 to 28°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.8.

Strong flow suits it, matching the fast rivers it comes from. It is a heavy waste producer, so run oversized filtration and do large, frequent water changes. Do not treat it as a cleanup crew. Feed it properly with sinking wafers, blanched vegetables and the occasional bit of protein.

Keep just one per tank, since males are territorial toward other plecos unless the system is very large. It is mostly peaceful toward other species and grazes the bottom at night. There is no reliable record of it breeding in home aquariums, since it is a big fish that spawns in burrows.

Good to know

Hypostomus punctatus is a large, armored suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is long lived, often reaching 10 to 15 years or more. The spotted plecos you buy are raised commercially in ponds or on farms.

In the wild

Spotted plecos come from coastal river drainages in southeastern Brazil, including fast-flowing stretches with plenty of current. They rasp at surfaces there and wedge into cover.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The spotted pleco is a mostly 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 spotted pleco need?

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

What temperature and pH does a spotted pleco need?

A spotted pleco is comfortable at 72–82°F (22–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.8.

What does a spotted pleco eat?

A spotted pleco eats sinking wafers and blanched vegetables, with the occasional bit of protein. It is not a cleanup crew, so feed it properly.

How big does a spotted pleco get?

An adult spotted pleco reaches about 11.8 in (30 cm).

How does a spotted pleco breed?

A spotted pleco spawns in burrows. There is no reliable record of it breeding in home aquariums, since it is such a big fish.

Related species