Above: a young premium quality Red-Eye Albino Trinidad Plecostomus in one of our aquariums, when one of us snapped this picture.

Click here to see several more pictures of this fish.

Comments: Premium Plecostomus Catfish of this quality are rarely seen in live fish stores or in online fish stores.

Premium Fish like these catfish are more energetic, more hardy, and more colorful than fish from other sources.

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Origin: This Plecos's ancestors lived parts of northeastern South America including northeastern Brazil, the Guianas, and Trinidad and Tobago, but this fish was born and raised on a famous fish farm.

Maximum Size: In aquariums, this catfish can grow to be more than 24" long, which of course will make them too big for almost all home aquariums.

Behaviors: These Catfish are not aggressive. They tend to hide when the lights are on, and often hang on the glass behind a filter, but they'll quickly come out, when food is offered to them.

They eat algae that grows in aquariums, and so they're often called Algae Eaters.

But they will also eat almost anything available.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include other South American fish like Tetras or Cichlids, and almost all other types of fish.

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Temperature: this catfish can live pretty well from about 70 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable from about 75 to 78 degrees F.

Click here to learn about aquarium temperature, aquarium thermometers, and aquarium heaters.

Feeding: Premium Fish Food Pellets.

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Water Conditions: this catfish tolerates of a wide range of water conditions.

Probably a pH of about 7 with moderate hardness is best.

Most water in the US seems to be OK, so it's probably best NOT to adjust the pH or the hardness of the water.

Here in our facilities the water is hard and the pH is usually about 7.8. We ship them in this water.

Aquarium Size: When less than 3" long they can live in 30-gallon aquarium, but when fed well, they will soon need a larger aquarium.

Eventually they'll need an aquarium with at least 150-gallons of water and 2 or 3 Penguin 350 Filters.

Decor: these catfish do not need gravel, and a layer of gravel more than 1/4" thick will usually fill with bits of uneaten food that will contaminate the water.

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Live Plants: are beautiful, improve the water quality, but will be eaten and bulldozed out of the way by these catfish, as they search the bottom for food.

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Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 200B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons is OK, when these catfish are under 3".

But eventually they'll need to live in an aquarium with at least 150-gallons of water and 2 or 3 Penguin 350B Filters.Click

here to learn more about aquarium filters.

The addition of Lava Rocks will keep nitrates in the ideal range.

Click here to learn more about using Lava Rocks in aquariums.

Life Span: this catfish can live for many years, maybe more than 20-years with excellent care, including excellent water and premium fish foods.

Gender: As they mature, the females will fill with eggs and get plumper.

But it's usually not easy to see.

Breeding: there are few reports of this catfish being spawned in an aquarium.

But fish farmers breed lots of them in large dirt ponds.

Popularity: one of the most popular aquarium fish.

Names: This species scientific name is Hypostomus punctatus or perhaps Hypostomus plecostomus.

Sometimes they're called Plecos, Plecs, and Algae Eaters.

Variations: There is also a long finned variation.

Click here for more information about Plecostomus.

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