These are Leporacanthicus joselimai "L264" Rio Tapajos, known as the sultan pleco. They reportedly get around six inches long. I bought these wild caught individuals from Freshwater Exotics out of the Milwaukee area. They are a joy to watch. For the first couple of weeks they were very shy, rarely coming out of the caves and crevices in the driftwood/clay pot landscape I created in their tank. I originally had them housed in a forty gallon breeder aquarium. They slowly began to creep out during feedings. I initially fed them a diet of french cut string beans, veggie flakes, sinking cichlid pellets, and zucchini with ample doses of frozen bloodworms. I wanted to make sure they were healthy and fat after enduring shipping from South America. I cut the bloodworms way back once they were acclimated.
These plecos are primarily herbivorous, so too much protein in their diet could be problematic. I still toss them some meaty stuff once in a while, but less than once a week. So far a diet heavy with courgette and green beans has served them well. I have had them since October 1st of last year and they are much more active now. They are always out during feeding time and often at other times as well. Their fear of me has all but vanished.
I moved them to a seventy-five gallon aquarium with a group of nine Cyathopharynx furcifer Ruziba, a reverse trio of Altolamprologus sp. 'compressiceps shell' Mpulungu who are actively breeding, and a small number of juvenile Fossorochromis rostratus, maybe around ten or so. I would now like to induce some spawning activity in them. I am no pleco expert, but I believe I have three males and two females. I suspect upping the temperature a tad and increasing the current in the tank might help trigger breeding. One issue I have to solve first is to find some suitable caves for them. I have one that sort of works, but looks a little tight and several that are much too large for the fish.
More to come in time. Also, check out the updated Currently Keeping list.
These plecos are primarily herbivorous, so too much protein in their diet could be problematic. I still toss them some meaty stuff once in a while, but less than once a week. So far a diet heavy with courgette and green beans has served them well. I have had them since October 1st of last year and they are much more active now. They are always out during feeding time and often at other times as well. Their fear of me has all but vanished.
I moved them to a seventy-five gallon aquarium with a group of nine Cyathopharynx furcifer Ruziba, a reverse trio of Altolamprologus sp. 'compressiceps shell' Mpulungu who are actively breeding, and a small number of juvenile Fossorochromis rostratus, maybe around ten or so. I would now like to induce some spawning activity in them. I am no pleco expert, but I believe I have three males and two females. I suspect upping the temperature a tad and increasing the current in the tank might help trigger breeding. One issue I have to solve first is to find some suitable caves for them. I have one that sort of works, but looks a little tight and several that are much too large for the fish.
More to come in time. Also, check out the updated Currently Keeping list.
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