Pterygoplichthys
gibbiceps (Kner, 1854) |
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| Image
contributors to this species: |
|
Sandy Milne (1) Allan James (3)
Helen Burns (3) Thomas Sass Pedersen
(2) Marty Edwards (2) BigFrogFeet
(3) |
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ScotCat Sources: |
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| Other
Sources: |
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| Relevant
Information: |
The true
P. gibbiceps, L 165, is rarely imported and is from the
Rio Negro (Brazil). It has a much higher dorsal fin than the
specimens imported from Venezuela and Colombia but the colouration
is much the same. There is a wide distribution and colour variants
in Brazil and Peru for this species including L 083 and L 313 from
Brazil, Pará, Rio Xingu (south and floodplain lakes
at Altamira), and L164 from the Rio Tefé,
Brazil. Some of these may turn out to be new undescribed species
or just colour variants of P. gibbiceps. Aquarium
Care: To keep this fine looking animal in mint condition
you will need a reasonably sized aquarium starting of with a 3 footer
when small with good external filtration to facilitate a good oxygen
content, as it excretes copious amounts of waste if fed properly
on vegetable matter. If the water quality is not adhered to, small
holes can appear in the fin membranes. You will notice when your
water quality is not up to the mark as they "hang" in
the water just of their fins, from the substrate, which means 'get
that water change done'. It is kind to plants in the aquarium, the
only problem is when it gets bigger and can uproot them in its conquest
around the tank. You can identify a Pterygoplichthys
species from Hypostomus for example due to the many
more rays in the dorsal fin, which can be up to 10 or over. Diet:
They are mostly vegetarian
with algae being their number one source of food but to keep a large
fish fed on algae alone is impossible so you can feed also, spinach,
blanched lettuce, cucumber, courgette (zucchini) and also non veg
food such as tablets and prawns. |
| Common
Name: |
Gibby, Sail
fin Pleco, L083,
L165, |
| Synonyms: |
Ancistrus gibbiceps,
Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps, Liposarcus altipinnis |
| Family: |
Loricariidae
ycipitidae |
| Distribution: |
South America:
Middle and upper Amazon and Orinoco basins. |
| Size:
|
50cm. (
20ins) |
| Temp: |
25-30°c
(77-87°f.) |
| p.H. |
5.0-7.0. |
| References: |
Rainer
Stawikowski, André Werner & Ingo Seidel. DATZ
Special L-Numbers 2004. All L-numbers: Habitat, Care & Diet. |
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Family: Loricariidae
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Eating from worm feeder
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