Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

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130. STARLIGHT BRISTLENOSE PLECO "L183" (Ancistrus dolichopterus)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4" (approx. 10cm)
ORIGIN: Brazil, South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: have been commercially bred eventhough still considered rare in the local market, males have head tentacles, females do not

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129. RUBBER PLECO (Parancistrus aurantiacus)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 8.7" (approx. 22cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Ucuyali, Peru (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: Capable of changing from a dull grey brown colouration into striking golden form, eats most vegetarian foods, tablets and pellets, frozen meaty foods and woods



128. DULL EYED ROYAL PLECO "L191" (Panaque sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 10" (approx. 25cm)
ORIGIN: Colombia, South America
DIET: Omnivorous, tends to be more herbivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: oftenly referred as "Green Royal", has got grey eye colour instead red / orange like most royal pleco


127. "L236" (Hypancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4.7" (approx. 12cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Iriri, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: a very beautiful species rarely seen on stocklists, if you ever come by some, you should jump at the chance without any hesitation!

126. RED LIZARD "L10a" (Rineloricaria sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4.4" (approx. 11cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: Aqualog introduced this fish with an l-number of L010a, it is very different from L010, will eat most foods from cucumber or zucchini slices to frozen bloodworm or dry flake foods, have been commercially bred

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

125. VOLKSWAGEN PLECO "LDA65" (Panaque sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 20" (approx. 50cm)
ORIGIN: Peru, South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: the biggest panaque, wood eater



124. CHOCOLATE ZEBRA PLECO "L270" (Hypancistrus debilittera)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4" (approx. 10cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful

MISC: main diet should consist of meaty foods, often also accept accepts vegetable matter such as algae/spirulina disks and fresh vegetables

123. CACHORRO (Acestrorhynchus falcatus)
FAMILY: Acestrorhynchidae
TYPE: Characins
MAX SIZE: 10" (approx. 25cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: oftenly referred as "FRESHWATER BARRACUDA", will eat smaller fish, a schooling fish that should be either keep singly or in groups of 6 or more, if kept in groups of 2-5 fish, fighting will occur

122. AFRICAN PIKE (Hepsetus odoe)
FAMILY: Hepsetidae
TYPE: Characins
MAX SIZE: 28" (approx. 70cm)
ORIGIN: Africa
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: relatively short-lived and may only live about five years, occurs in most coastal rivers, lakes and swamps throughout Africa

121. BOWFIN FISH (Amia Calva)
FAMILY: Amiidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 30" (approx. 75cm)
ORIGIN: North America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: colder water is essential, requires a large tank with a good filtration system to keep the water clean, just like their natural environment,

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

120. LIME PIKE / NORTHERN PIKE (Esox lucius)
FAMILY: Esocidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 25" (approx. 150cm)
ORIGIN: North America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: prefer colder water, put lots of hiding caves and plants so it can hide and ambush on the prey, solitary and highly territorial

119. FIREWOOD CATFISH (Sorubimichthys planiceps)
FAMILY: Pimelodidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 64" (approx. 160cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: considered ''Vulnerable'' to extinction due to overfishing by commercial fisheries, under Colombian law, specimens under 95 cm may not be retained

118. WELS CATFISH (Silurus glanis)
FAMILY: Siluriidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 193" (approx. 490cm)
ORIGIN: Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: not to be trusted with any other fish, best kept in a pond, it uses its sharp pectoral fins to capture prey

117. PIRAYA PIRANHA (Pygocentrus piraya)
FAMILY: Characidae
TYPE: Characins
MAX SIZE: 24" (approx. 60cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: very good water quality is required to achieve maximum growth rate and good health, the biggest of all piranhas, oftenly referred as "king piranha"

116. POLKA DOT STINGRAY (Potamotrygon leopoldi)
FAMILY: Potamotrygonidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 16" (approx. 40cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Semi Aggressive

MISC: water has to be kept very clean and regular water changes and good filtration is a must, sensetive to many chemicals including many common fish medicines

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

115. GIANT MEKONG CATFISH (Pangasianodon gigas)
FAMILY: Pangasiidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 120" (approx. 300cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: one of the worlds largest freshwater fish, become rare due to overexploitation, international trade banned (CITES I, since 1.7.1975; CMS Appendix I).

114. WOLF FISH (Hoplias malabaricus)
FAMILY: Erythrinidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 20" (approx. 50cm)
ORIGIN: South and Central America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive
MISC: make sure the tank has a strong tight-fitting cover, as this powerful fish may jump, oftenly referred as "Piranha eater", are due to its aggressive nature most suitable to be kept alone



113. AUSTRALIAN LUNGFISH (Neoceratodus forsteri)
FAMILY: Ceratodontidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 60" (approx. 150cm)
ORIGIN: Queensland, Australia
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: protected species and may not be captured without a special permit, it is also listed in Appendix 2 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

112. SOUTH AMERICAN LUNGFISH (Lepidosiren paradoxus)
FAMILY: Lepidosirenidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 50" (approx. 125cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: is the single species of lungfish found in swamps and slow-moving waters in South America, juveniles feed on larval insects and snails, while adults are omnivorous and feed on aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates such as snails, clams and shrimp, and algae

111. SLENDER LUNGFISH (Protopterus dolloi)
FAMILY: Protopteridae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 52" (approx. 130cm)
ORIGIN: Africa
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: best to keep these fish in their own tank, as they are fearless and will attack almost anything that moves, including human hands, prefer warm water

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

110. MARBLED LUNGFISH (Protopterus aethiopicus aethiopicus)
FAMILY: Protopteridae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 80" (approx. 200cm)
ORIGIN: Africa
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive
MISC: consists of mollusks,small fishes and insects, young individuals feed almost wholly on insects


109. WEST AFRICAN LUNGFISH (Protopterus annectens annectens)
FAMILY: Protopteridae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 40" (approx. 100cm)
ORIGIN: West Africa
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: during the dry season, it secretes a thin slime around itself which dries into a fragile cocoon; it can exist in this state for over a year

108. PAYARA / SABRETOOTH CHARACINS (Hydrolycus scomberoides)
FAMILY: Characidae
TYPE: Characins
MAX SIZE: 30" (approx. 75cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: a predatory that can only be kept with other equally large species, Prefers live fish and will eat anything that smaller then half it size, might eat even bigger fishes

107. GENGIS KHAN / CHAO PHRAYA GIANT CATFISH (Pangasius sanitwongsei)
FAMILY: Pangasiidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 100" (approx. 250cm)
ORIGIN: Vietnam, Thailand (Southeast Asia)
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: oftenly mistaken as Pangasius sutchii especially at juvenile stage, oftenly referred as "Freshwater shark", the second biggest fish in the Mekong basins

106. ABA ABA KNIFEFISH (Gymnopterus niloticus)
FAMILY: Gymnarchidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 56" (approx. 140cm)
ORIGIN: Africa
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive, extremely territorial

MISC: will bite anything that moves and ask questions later, almost resemble Electric Eels, and can produce the same type of electric shocks, but not as powerful

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

105. ELECTRIC EEL (Electrophorus electricus)
FAMILY: Gymnotidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: 100" (approx. 250cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive
MISC: capable of generating powerful electric shocks, which it uses for both hunting and self-defense, their scientific classification is closer to carp and catfish



104. ARAPAIMA (Arapaima gigas)
FAMILY: Osteoglossidae
TYPE: Miscellanious
MAX SIZE: more than 200" (approx. 500cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Aggressive

MISC: perhaps the biggest freshwater fish, has the ability to breathe air from the surface due to a lung-like lining of its throat, the tongue of this fish is thought to have medicinal qualities in South America. It is dried and combined with guarana bark, which is grated and mixed into water

103. CLOWN PLECO "L104", "L162", and "LDA22" (Panaqolus maccus)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 3.6" (approx. 9cm)
ORIGIN: Venezuela and Colombia (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: wood eater, has been commercially bred


102. BIG SPOTTED BARYANCISTRUS "L142" and "LDA33" (Baryancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 10" (approx. 25cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful

MISC: shows a fondness for sweet potato and algae wafers, feed a varied diet to keep this fish healthy, become increasingly territorial to other bottom dwellers (especially Loricariids) as it matures

101. KING TIGER PLECO "L66" (Hypancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 5" (approx. 12cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tocantins, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful

MISC: a distinctive L number that is only confused with a few other similarly patterned species, youngsters however are quite different from the adults

Freshwater Fish Species Profiles

100. YELLOW / GREEN PHANTOM PLECO "L200" (Hemiancistrus sp.) and "L200a" (Baryancistrus demantoides)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 7" (approx. 18cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Orinocco, Venezuela (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: basically L200a has higher dorsal fin than L200

99. BLUE PHANTOM PLECO "L128" (Hemiancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 7" (approx. 18cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Orinocco, Venezuela (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: although and effective algae eater, it should be given a varied diet of prepared foods

98. BLUE EYED PLECO (Panaque cochliodon)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 12" (approx. 30cm)
ORIGIN: Colombia, South America
DIET: Omnivorous, tends to be more herbivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: generally identified as Panaque suttoni, one of the rarest pleco in the market


97. ROYAL PLECO "L27", "L190", "LDA63" (Panaque nigrolineatus)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 16" (approx. 40cm) for L27 variants, 13" (approx. 34cm) for L190
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Rio Tocantins, Rio Tapajos, Brazil (L27) and Venezuela (L190) (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous, tends to be more herbivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: wood eater, they have the ability to digest wood for their fibre diet, L190 is the "text book" royal pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus), while the brazil variants are listed under the name "Panaque cf. nigrolineatus"


96. TIGER PLECO "L02" (Panaqolus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 5" (approx. 12.5cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tocantins, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: this species belongs to the group of small sized typically wood eating plecos that has been proposed to belong to a new genus, Panaqolus (mini panaque)

Freshwater Fish Species

95. SAILFIN PLECO "L83" (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: " (approx. cm)
ORIGIN: Peru and Brazil, South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: require heavy filtration, not because they are fussy about water quality, but because of the high volumes of waste they produce




94. QUEEN ARABESQUE "L260" (Hypancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4" (approx. 10cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: the males are slightly bigger, longer interopercular, seems to have a belly that is marble, females however have all white bellies

93. MAGNUM PLECO "L47" (Baryancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 11" (approx. 28cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: rocks and driftwood help to accent a natural habitat and provide hiding spaces to cut down on stress for most plecos

92. BRISTLENOSE PLECO (Ancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 6" (approx. 15cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: the males have more bristle than the female, has been commercially bred



91. LEOPARD FROG PLECO "L134" (Peckoltia sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 4" (approx. 10cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: have been commercially bred, total omnivore who will sometimes eats on algae

Freshwater Fish Species

90. TITANICUS PLECO "L273" (Pseudacanthicus sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 12" (approx. 30cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tapajos, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: peaceful but territorial from a young age, some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish



89. FLASH PLECO "L204" (Panaque sp.)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 5.2" (approx. 13cm)
ORIGIN: Peru, South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: The most popular pleco from Peru


88. SUNSHINE PLECO "L14" (Scobinancistrus aureatus)
FAMILY: Loriicaridae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 17" (approx. 40cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: one of the most popular loricariidae in the market, not as shy and timid as most plecos


87. POLKA DOT LYRE / ADONIS PLECO (Acanthicus adonis)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 40" (approx. 100cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Tocantins, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: the spots will eventually faded when reaching adult size, probably the biggest loricariidae


86. SCARLET PLECO "L25" (Pseudacanthicus sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 17" (approx. 40cm)
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Carnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: although a carnivore, some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet, Water quality is important for this fish, clear, well-oxygenated especially because of the warmer water this fish prefers

Freshwater Fish Species

85. GOLD NUGGET PLECO "L18", "L81", "L85" and "L177" (Baryancistrus sp.)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 14" (approx. 35cm) (L18 & L85), 7.1" (approx. 18cm) (L81), 8" (approx. 20cm) (L177)
ORIGIN: Rio Xingu, Brazil (South America)
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: 3 similar forms from the same river which are separated by the size of the spots and collection locality. The fish with the largest spots come from higher up the river and the smaller spots come from further down the river while the L018 is from in between them. The L085 is the juvenile form of L018, thus they are the same fish

84. COMMON PLECO "L21" or "L23" (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)
FAMILY: Loricariidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 24" (approx. 60cm)
ORIGIN: Amazon, South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: formerly known as "Hypostomus plecostomus", recently became available in the albino form

83. IRIDESCENT CORY (Corydoras rabauti)
FAMILY: Callichthyidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 2.2" (approx. 6cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: the fry possess a radically different colouration from the adults

82. SPOTTED CORY (Corydoras ambiacus)
FAMILY: Callichthyidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 2.5" (approx. 6cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: has a a short snout but elongated upwards towards the end of its snout as in the above picture

81. SCHWARTZ'S CORY (Corydoras schwatrzi)
FAMILY: Callichthyidae
TYPE: Catfish
MAX SIZE: 2.8" (approx. 7cm)
ORIGIN: South America
DIET: Omnivorous
CHARACTER: Peaceful
MISC: named for Mr. Schwartz.