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L270 Tapajos Red Pleco
Hemiancistrus sp. L270
📍 South America
The L270 Tapajos Red Pleco is a stunning medium-sized pleco species featuring vibrant red coloration on the body and fins, making it a prized addition to South American biotope aquariums. This nocturnal wood-eater is relatively peaceful and does well in established tanks with plenty of driftwood and hiding spaces. Known for their striking appearance and manageable size, they are moderately challenging to care for but rewarding for dedicated aquarists.
Care Guide
Diet
Feed high-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, and blanched vegetables such as zucchini and spinach 3-4 times weekly. Provide plenty of driftwood for natural wood-grazing behavior, which aids digestion. Supplement with occasional protein sources like bloodworms or shrimp pellets 1-2 times per week.
Behavior
The L270 is a nocturnal species that spends most daylight hours hidden in caves or under driftwood, becoming more active during evening and night hours. They are generally solitary and territorial toward other plecos but peaceful with non-competing fish species. Males may exhibit territorial behavior toward each other, so they should be housed individually or in very large tanks.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity is extremely difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require very specific conditions including large breeding caves, pristine water quality, and specific temperature fluctuations. Professional breeders use specialized setups with multiple caves and careful conditioning; most aquarium specimens are wild-caught.
Tank Mates
Similar water parameters and peaceful bottom-dweller that won't compete for food or space
Mid-water swimmer that occupies different zone; peaceful and compatible with plecos
Peaceful schooling fish that won't bother plecos and prefers similar water conditions
Can be territorial with other plecos; only house together in very large tanks with multiple caves
Small peaceful tetra that occupies mid-water zone and won't compete with bottom-dwelling pleco
Compatible bottom-dweller with similar water requirements; peaceful and non-aggressive
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects
Increase temperature gradually to 28-30 C (82-86 F), use aquarium salt at recommended doses, perform 25% water changes daily, ensure good aeration and filtration
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin tissue loss
Improve water quality with frequent water changes, remove decaying driftwood, treat with antibacterial medication if severe, maintain optimal water parameters
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, lesions on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, behavioral changes
Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, isolate if possible, maintain pristine water conditions
Parasitic Infection
Excessive scratching, visible parasites on body, weight loss, lethargy, clamped fins
Use anti-parasitic medication as directed, perform frequent water changes, quarantine affected fish, treat entire tank if infestation is widespread
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Omnivore - primarily herbivorous wood-eater with carnivorous tendencies
- lifespan
- 10-15 years
- max size
- 14 cm (5.5 in)
- tank size
- 55 gallons minimum
- temperament
- peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.0-7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 4-8 dGH
- temperature
- 75–82°F (24–28°C)