Sultan pleco

Leporacanthicus joselimai

A grey pleco with black spots; the juvenile white fin tips usually fade with age.

Adult length: Up to 9.8 cm (standard length, without the tail fin)
Water temperature: 26–30 °C
Lifespan: 10–15 years
pH: 6–7

Natural habitat: Native to the Tapajós River basin in Brazil.

Keep at 26–30°C and pH 6.0–7.0, with high oxygen, effective filtration, regular water changes and wood or rock refuges.

Appearance and identification

Black spots cover the grey head, body, dorsal fin and tail. White fin tips in young fish usually disappear with age. A small sucker mouth and a raised crest behind the head are genus features. Males have broader heads and short snout-edge odontodes.

Aquarium environment

A planted aquarium still needs to meet this species' oxygen, filtration and refuge requirements.

Diet and feeding

Not a strict vegetarian. Offer algae, algae wafers, cucumber or courgette, prawns or shrimp and tablet foods in a varied diet.

Same-species behaviour

Individuals can be territorial towards their own kind, so multiple fish need sufficient space.

Sources