L065

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Doodles

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
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All assigned numbers: L065

Name:

Common Names: Mustang Cactus Pleco, Variegatus Cactus Pleco

Location: Brazil: Rio Manacapuru

Photos:
1_m_L65.jpg1_m_L65__2_.jpg1_m_L65__4_.jpg1_L065.jpg

Appearance:

Compatibility:
The L065 is fairly placid compared to other pseudacanthicus

Sexing and Breeding:
Males have a broader and longer head than females, they also have bristles on the side of the head. Males can be more colourful than females and often have a larger dorsal fin. Breeding is supposed to be relatively easy.

Diet:
This beautifully patterned Loricarid belongs to the genus of carnivorous pleco's called Pseudacanthicus or Cactus Pleco's. One glance at its mouth illustrates this well: instead of a true sucker mouth, it has a mouth than is more suitable for grasping and holding food items. Its teeth are few in number, but powerful and large: ideal for cracking open snails and small crustaceans as well as rasping meat.
All this means that its diet should primarily be made up of meaty foods, such as shrimp, krill, mussels, blood worms, mosquito larvae and fish meat (fillets). But once acclimatized, the Mustang Cactus Pleco usually is an undemanding fish that will also accept pellet food (both with meaty and plant matter) and sometimes even fresh vegetables such as cucumber, zucchini, egg plant, potato, etc.

Water parameters:
Temp 25-29c PH 5.5-7.5
A tank with dimmed lights and a good amount of hiding places (plants, drift wood, rocks, artificial caves) is ideal for this beautifully patterned catfish. It is one of the least aggressive pseudacanthicus which is probably why it has been bred successfully. The Mustang Cactus Pleco does best in soft, slightly acidic water (pH 5.5-6.5), heavy oxygenation and a lot of currents. A powerful filtration system is required, as this fish produces a lot of waste due to its high-protein diet.

Max Size: 20cm

Bred by:
Has been bred several times in the aquarium

Additional Comments:

Some care requirements used with permission from www.piranha-info.com
 
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