Xingu peppermint pleco
Parancistrus nudiventris
Also known as L031, Peppermint pleco L031
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 81–88°F
- 27–31°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.2
- 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
- Medium
- Rarity
- Common
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Xingu, Brazil
Overview
The Xingu peppermint pleco is a peaceful bottom dweller and a Xingu specialist that needs the warm, fast, rocky water it comes from. It is best kept by someone with a little experience.
Did you know
The Xingu peppermint pleco presses its bare belly against warm rock like a thermal pad, so it sunbathes from below.
Caring for the Xingu peppermint pleco
Keep one Xingu peppermint pleco in a river tank of 79 gal (300 L) or more. Give the tank caves and smooth stone, and fit strong pumps for fast, heavily oxygenated water.
It needs very warm water, at 81 to 88°F (27 to 31°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.2. Water this warm holds little oxygen, so circulation is the main thing that keeps it alive. Matching these conditions is not optional.
Feed sinking foods with real vegetable content, plus some frozen protein. The Xingu peppermint pleco is peaceful and solitary, and it is safe with community fish. Breeding it is moderately difficult.
Good to know
Parancistrus nudiventris is a pleco of the family Loricariidae. It carries a pale spotted pattern over a dark body, and the pattern fades and sharpens with mood. The epithet nudiventris means naked-bellied, for its unarmored underside. Like other Parancistrus, it can flatten itself into rock crevices and hold on hard against current.
In the wild
The Xingu peppermint pleco lives in the rapids of the Rio Xingu in Brazil, among rock in hot, fast, broken water. This is one of the warmest habitats any aquarium pleco comes from.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
The Xingu peppermint 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.
Silver dollar
Metynnis argenteus
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Giant river hatchetfish
Triportheus rotundatus
Freshwater9.8 in (25 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Giant upside-down catfish
Synodontis batensoda
Freshwater11.8 in (30 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Spotted metynnis
Metynnis maculatus
Freshwater7.1 in (18 cm) · 92 gal (350 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Largescale four-eyed fish
Anableps anableps
FreshwaterBrackish11.8 in (30 cm) · 70 gal (265 L)77–88°F (25–31°C)
Opal spot pleco
Scobinancistrus raonii
Freshwater6.3 in (16 cm) · 79 gal (300 L)81–88°F (27–31°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Xingu peppermint pleco need?
A Xingu peppermint pleco needs at least 79 gal (300 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Xingu peppermint pleco need?
A Xingu peppermint pleco is comfortable at 81–88°F (27–31°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.2.
What does a Xingu peppermint pleco eat?
A Xingu peppermint pleco eats sinking foods with real vegetable content, plus some frozen protein.
How big does a Xingu peppermint pleco get?
An adult Xingu peppermint pleco reaches about 8.7 in (22 cm).
Related species
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