Common Plecostomus

While Linnaeus first described this fish as Hypostomus plecostomus in 1758, the fish sold as a Common Pleco could be one of several different species. Capable of growing to over 11 inches in length, this fish has a brown body with darker brown markings. It is generally safe with most all fish, with the possible exception of large bodied, slow moving fish like Orandas and Discus. A member of the “sucker-mouth” catfish, the Common Pleco comes from South America and is usually kept in the home aquarium for its ability to eat algae. The specialized under slung mouth and tooth structure allows the Pleco to scrape algae off of almost any type of surface. This makes it an ideal fish for general algae control in the aquarium. They will also scavenge foods that hit the bottom and may learn to even eat floating foods. Their diet is mostly vegetable matter, so be sure to supplement their diet with algae wafers and blanched zucchini spears. Larger Plecos may damage live plants by trying to eat any algae off of the leaves, and their weight breaks the stem of the leaf. The Pleco may also knock around smaller plants as they search for food. It is best to provide cover in the form of caves or driftwood for the Pleco to hang out, as they prefer to stay in the dark until feeding time. The heavy scaling acts like armor plating to protect them from most other fish, allowing the Pleco to be used in Cichlid aquariums as well as Community tanks. While most Plecos are sociable with other Plecos, some species will quarrle with one another and should be kept separate. In the last few years there has been an explosion of new species of Plecos available and in the literature you will see an identification method that uses “L-numbers” to try to distinguish the different types. Unfortunately, many of these fish are given “common names” and may actually be one of several similar species. Regardless of the actual species, the Pleco will make an interesting and useful addition to the aquarium.

Approximate arrival size for Common Plecostomus: Small: 2-3"; Medium: 3-4.5"; Large: 5-6.5".