Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

The honeycomb Pleco ( Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, formerly Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps ) is an indigenous to the upper and middle Amazon basin, and in the Orinoco armored catfish from the genus Pterygoplichthys.

Features

The fish reaches a length of up to 50 centimeters. His body is covered 28 to 30 arranged in rows bone plates. The color is brown with numerous black spots that are smaller at the top and on the fins are arranged in rows. The very large dorsal fin has a leading dorsal spine and 12 to 13 soft rays. The anal fin has four soft rays after single dorsal spine.

Way of life

Honeycomb plates catfish are crepuscular and nocturnal animals that live in small flocks. Their natural food seems to consist of algae and nursery, but they probably also eat insect larvae and other aquatic animals. Despite their size, they are very peaceful even against much smaller fish species.

For the aquarium hobby, this fish is only conditionally suitable for its size, or only in large community aquarium from 140 cm pelvic length. In the trade, these animals are sold with a few centimeters, but grow very rapidly in the first few years. In the aquarium, the animals can be well over 20 years old.

Reproduction

Honeycomb plates catfish have been propagated in captivity. It will be placed about 120 light yellow 3 mm large eggs, which are guarded by the male. The boys swim freely four days after hatching.

Swell

Günther Sterba: freshwater fish in the world, Urania - Verlag, 1990, ISBN 3-332-00109-4
Hans A. Baensch, Rüdiger Riehl: Aquarium Atlas, Volume 1 Mergus Verlag, 1997, ISBN 3-88244-101-1
Honeycomb Pleco on Fishbase.org (English)

Loricarioidea

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