Pet Fish Care

Sailfin Pleco a.k.a Common Pleco
Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps

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Cost: Up to $10, cheaper when smaller.

Short Bio:
A truly beautiful fish when fully grown with its dark, and rich-brown color pattern. But it really a magnificent site when it holds its sail like dorsal fin erect. This fish sadly though, incounters a lot of problems when it’s smaller. The sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco is sold when it’s 3 inches usually, as the ideal “algae eater” for any size fish tank. The sailfin pleco a.ka common pleco will get up to 20 inches (50cm) in length when fully grown. So when thinking of purchasing a sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco, make sure to take it’s size into account.

Origin:

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Brazil, Rio Negro, Amazonas States.

Size:
Both, males and females, will get up to about 20 inches (50cm).

Sexual distinctions:
There are not physical features that you can look at but through examination of the genital papillae you will be able to tell it’s a females if it’s rounded and a males will be elongated. So males have a elongates genital papillae and a female will have a rounded genital papillae.

Tank conditions:
First the tank size should be 48 x 18 x 18 inches (120 x 45 x 45 cm).Temperature 71-81 degrees Fahrenheit (22-27 Celsius). The water should be of good quality and well filtered but other then that the parameters are not critical. The tank should have plenty of dense hiding spots amongst bogwood for the sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco, to take cover in. And if you want to, or planning on having plants in the tank then only the most robust of species should be used, and should be planted in pots to avoid being uprooted by the sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco.

Food:
In the wild will graze on algae, insect larvae, shrimps and small crustaceans. But in a controlled environment the pleco will need a diet that consists of algae wafers of tablets, and will eat any type of frozen food. And it will eat the algae on your glass so don’t over feed or it will just wait for the food rather then eating the algae off the glass. But please remember to give the sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco at least 1 algae wafer a every third day.

Behavior:
Even with it’s massive size, the sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco, is a very peaceful community fish. The only time that you may see a conflict between the sailfin pleco a.k.a common pleco and another fish is if it wants the space that another fish is in, but it’s still not a fight for it will just muscle its way into whatever spot it wants.

Breeding:
No known breeding methods. Sorry

Here is a video of a Sailfin Pleco eating.

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Dwarf suckermouth catfish a.k.a oto cat
otocinclus affinis

It belongs to the family Loricariidae

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Origin:
Southeast Brazil

Description:
A slender catfish with a suckermouth. A fairly high dorsal fin, but no adipose fins. About 1 ½ inches in length (4cm).

Color:
A base color that is light greenish gray to a muddy yellow. The fins have no color, or in some cases a light green.

Sexual distinction:
Mature females will be much bulkier.

Tank conditions:
Needs a current of some kind. So you can’t just have one in a bowl that doesn’t have a filter current, or current from a bubble curtain. Temperature 68-73 degrees Fahrenheit (20-23 Celsius). The ph and hardness ratings are not that important. The tank should be well planted with lots of hiding places.

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And don’t worry about the plants, the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish will eat the algae that grows on them. That brings me to my next subject.

Food:
Will mainly eat vegetation, will also eat very small worms. Most people often buy the oto cat a.k.a dwarf suckermouth catfish to eat the algae growing in their tank, which it will earn it’s keep by doing.

Behavior:
Usually remains under cover during the day, most active at dusk and during the night, which is it’s normal feeding time. Will attach it self to the sides of vertical slabs of rock, plant leaves and stems or the side of the glass.

Sexual reproduction:
A difficult fish to breed, but what I’ve learned is that they breed similar to Corydoras. The eggs hatch after 2-3 days. The fry should be feed baby brine shrimp (artemia nauplii) micro worms or egg yolk powdered very very fine.

Compatibility:
Somewhat territorial but harmless. They will be just fine in a mixed aquarium when enough room is given.

Here are a couple of Otos just doing what they do.

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