Source: Wikimedia Commons
Sailfin Pleco
BeginnerPterygoplichthys gibbiceps
A large pleco with dark blotches on a yellowish-brown ground and a tall, sail-like dorsal fin, reaching 50cm as an adult. It is hardy and tolerates a wide range of water conditions, but eventually needs a big tank with powerful filtration. It can live more than 20 years.
Difficulty
Beginner
Temperature
23〜27℃
Lifespan
Over 20 years
Size
40-50cm
Diet
Algae, sinking vegetable wafers, vegetables and occasional meaty foods
About
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a large loricariid catfish of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. The genus characters are a tall dorsal fin with more than nine rays and a prominent crest in front of it, and the specific name means hump-headed. FishBase records 50cm total length. It can live more than 20 years. Dark blotches on a yellowish-brown ground become smaller as the fish grows. FishBase gives pH 6.0-8.0, 5-19dH and 23-27C. In the wild it shoals in sluggish rivers and aestivates in burrows about a metre long dug into mud banks during the dry season; egg rearing is presumed to take place in those burrows and the fish is rarely bred in tanks. It is mainly herbivorous and is pond-farmed in large numbers for the trade. Because it has established populations where introduced, it must never be released.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Lifespan of the Sailfin Pleco
The Sailfin Pleco lives Over 20 years.
Size of the Sailfin Pleco
The Sailfin Pleco grows to 40-50cm.
Temperature & humidity for the Sailfin Pleco
The ideal temperature for the Sailfin Pleco is 23〜27℃.
Basic Info
Origin
South America (Amazon and Orinoco basins in Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela)
Lifespan
Over 20 years
Care Specifications
References & Sources
Edited & verified by: BreederDirect editorial team
The taxonomic, regulatory, and husbandry data on this page are compiled and verified against the authoritative primary sources below.
Taxonomy & Authority
Accepted name: Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps (Kner, 1854)
Synonyms: Ancistrus gibbiceps, Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps
Authority databases: FishBase
Nomenclature follows global taxonomic authority databases.
Regulations & Conservation Status
Not CITES-listedIUCN LC · Least Concern
Sources: CITES Appendices (species not listed) / IUCN Red List
Regulations may change. Always verify the latest information with the relevant authorities.
Sailfin Pleco Listings
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