Comments: This is a Premium Pet Fish, and we never see Premium Fish like this in any of the live fish stores that we visit.

Premium Pet Fish are more energetic, hardier, and have brighter colors with a beautiful metallic sheen.

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Origin: This Plecostomus species was caught in Para in Southeast Brazil. Now they live in aquariums all over the world.

Maximum Size: This Plecostomus can grow to be about 12" long, including their tails. Sometimes very old ones can get even longer.

Behaviors: These Catfish are not aggressive.

They will usually move around pretty actively during the day, but some of them seem to hide during the day and become more active at night.

But if there is food to be eaten, they become very active looking for it.

Compatibility: Some recommended tank mates include Tetras, Cory Catfish, Discus, Angelfish, Pictus Catfish, Silver Dollars, etc.

This is a very mild tempered Pleco.

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Temperature: They live well from about 75 to 80 degrees F., but they're probably most comfortable at about 78 degrees F.

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Feeding: Premium Fish Food Flakes when very small and small Premium Pellet Food when larger.

They must also have wood, like nice pieces of aquarium-safe driftwood, in their aquarium.

One of these Blue eye red Fin Plecos that was only about 2.5" long nibbled all over several of our large Sword Plants.

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Water Conditions: This Plecostomus seems to be tolerant of a wide range of water conditions.

Probably a pH of about 6.5 with moderate hardness is best.

Most water in the US is different but 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.

This is a very hardy species, provided is has drift wood and plants to chew on.

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Aquarium Size: It is probably best to house these fish in at least a 30-gallon tank, when they're less than 3" long, but a bigger aquarium is always better.

Allow at least 5-gallons of water for each Plecostomus under 3" long.

They'll eat a huge amount of food and grow very fast.

At about 3" they should be moved into a 60-gallon aquarium, and eventually they will need a larger aquarium with 100-gallon or more of water.

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.

Click here for more about aquarium gravel. Pieces of aquarium-safe driftwood are also needed.

Live Plants are beautiful and improve the water quality.

Aquarium Filter: Bio-Wheel Filters are highly recommended.

A Penguin 350B Filter in an aquarium with 30-gallons of water is OK to start with a few of these Catfish that are less than 3" long.

At about 3" long they should be moved into a 60-gallon aquarium with two Penguin 350B Filters.

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

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Life Span: These Plecostomus can live for several years, probably many years provided they are fed premium food plus plenty of driftwood and kept in a very large aquarium with very fresh water.

Gender: As they mature females presumably become plumper than males.

Breeding: These Plecostomus have not been successfully bred in the aquarium hobby to our knowledge.

Popularity: This Plecostomus is rare and so not too popular, but it is hardy and a very good aquarium fish, and a good fish for aquarists, who want a rare Pleco.

Names: The scientific name is Hypostomus soniae, L-137.

Variations: This Plecostomus lives across a wide range in Southeastern Brazil, and their colors and patterns vary.

We hope you've enjoyed reading these comments.