.............................Zebra Pleco
Other names:...........Unknown Origin:......................Unknown Max size:..................6" PH:............-..............6.8-7.3 Temperature:...........74-81 F. Min tank size:..........35 gallons Food:.........................Vegatable matter, sinking pellets, algae |
This is one of the most beautiful species of plecos available. They are pretty rare right now and if you do happen to
find one they are for very high prices, usually 45-60 dollars for a 1 1\2-2" specimen. If you do happen to see one
you should buy it because they are worth every dollar.
Zebra Plecos are very shy fish and rarely come out during the day time to feed unlike the common pleco which
rarely hide and feeds all day. Zebra plecos dislike tank algae and dislike algae wafers so you should not waste your
time and try feeding them this. You should try feeding them zucchini or romaine lettuce, not the regular lettuce
because the regular lettuce lacks all the vitamins these fish needs to survive. Most of the Zebra Plecos that you do
see are usually wild caught therefore they have a lot of internal parasites and you have to feed them well for a
couple of months to condition them into good health.
When introducing this fish to your aquarium make sure you take your time to acclimate. If you just let the bag float
then pour the fish into the tank the fish will most likely die from shock. They are very weak when you bring them
home from the pet shop and care should be taken when transferring this fish from one tank to another.
They may seem like a very peaceful fish but they are only peaceful with other fish of different species. If kept
together they will surely fight. They are very territorial and if kept in large amounts the tank should have plenty of
room for them to establish their territory.
These fish need plenty of hiding space. You should make sure your tank is well planted and has caves for them to
hide in. Try making a cave out of rocks facing outward so you can see them while they are hiding. You MUST have
a piece of drift wood in your tank for them to suck on. They eat driftwood and it gives them to nutrition they need
to live. Once in awhile it is good to get a small clear bowl and put a little bit of blood worms inside the bowl for them
to eat when they come out. Don't add blood worms directly into your tank because they will dig under your gravel
and most likely stay there until they die.
These rare plecos are not as hardy as the common pleco and care should be taken when keeping them. They are
very sensitive to medications so it should be used in small dosage. When buying this fish check for any parasites or
awkward spots on them. Check underneath on their belly too. They are nocturnal fish and the lights should be
dimmed if possible. This is obviously not a good fish for a beginner.
Many thanks to James Le for this info!
We appreciate your feedback.