L004 (juvenile of L005)

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Doodles

Retired Staff
Apr 8, 2009
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All Assigned Numbers: L004, L005 related to L028, L073

Name:

Common Names: Portel Angelicus Pleco

Location: South America:
L004/L005: Rio Tocantins at Cametá, Brazil.
L028: Guamá by Ourém, Brazil.
L073: Portel at the Rio Do Pará, Pará, Brazil.

Photos:
L004_1.jpgL004.jpgL004_2.jpg
L004_4.jpgL004_3.jpg


Appearance:

Compatibility:
When cramped for space and without enough hiding places, hostilities can break out, resulting in - sometimes severe - injuries. Despite that, the Angelicus Pleco is best kept in a small group, as it will show more natural behaviour and is more comfortable in when accompanied by a number of others of its own kind.


Sexing and Breeding:
Because of its small maximum size, a relatively small tank is sufficient for a (breeding) group: a tank width a surface area of 80x40cm. (32x16") is enough to house a (breeding) group of 5-6 individuals: the division of sexes is ideal with one male for every 2-3 females. To get these fish to breed, you need a heavily oxygenated tank with a number of spawning caves, a powerhead that runs water along the cave entrances, and a temperature that is raised to 82-86 degrees Fahrenheit (28-30 degrees Celsius).

Diet:
An omnivore thats leans towards a meatier diet, so the main diet should consist of meaty foods such as frozen foods (tubifex, mosquito larvae, blood worms, artemia), dry foods (freeze-dried foods, flakes, granules), carnivore sinking pellets, and occasionally some small pieces of shrimp, mussels or fish fillet. Once acclimatized, it will often also accept vegetable matter such as algae/spirulina disks and fresh vegetables (lettuce, zucchini/courgette, eggplant/aubergine, capsicum, carrot, peas, preboiled spinach).
This species usually does not eat algae (it lacks suitable teeth for that task), so it's not a suitable fish to keep your tank free of algae.

Water parameters:
Temp 22-30c PH 5.5-7.5
This small catfish-species prefers a dimly lit tank with a good number of hiding places, either created with plants, drift wood, rocks or artificial (pleco spawning) caves. To keep more than one specimen in the same tank, or together with other bottom dwelling fish, you need at least a 40x16" (100x40cm.) tank: this fish can be quite territorial, and when suitable hiding places are lacking, it can be aggressive towards other bottom dwellers. When kept as only catfish in an aquarium, a tank size of 32x14" (80x35cm.) is sufficient, but it is recommended to keep this species in a group in a species tank.
The Angelicus Pleco does best in warm, soft, slightly acidic to neutral water (pH 6.0-7,0), oxygen-rich water and a lot of currents. A powerful filter system is recommended, as this fish produces a lot of waste.

Max Size:
15cm. (6")

Bred by:

Additional Comments:


Hypancistrus youngsters may require a more vegetable based diet according to Back to Nature Lnumbers book.

The Angelicus Pleco has been given more than one L-number in the past, and until today it has not yet been researched whether these are all geographical variants of the same species, or whether they are separate species.
L004 is a juvenile of L005, and L028 and L073 are as good as identical, but are found at different localities.

Profile information used from www.piranha-Info.com with permission

 
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