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FishmediumFreshwater

L270 Tapajos Red Pleco

Hemiancistrus sp. L270

📍 South America

Ask Finn

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.

Size5.5"
Min Tank55g
peaceful
Zonebottom

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.

Common Diseases

Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)

Symptoms

White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against objects

Treatment

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

Symptoms

Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, fin tissue loss

Treatment

Improve water quality with frequent water changes, remove decaying driftwood, treat with antibacterial medication if severe, maintain optimal water parameters

Bacterial Infection

Symptoms

Open sores, lesions on body, cloudy eyes, loss of appetite, behavioral changes

Treatment

Perform 50% water change immediately, treat with broad-spectrum antibiotic medication, isolate if possible, maintain pristine water conditions

Parasitic Infection

Symptoms

Excessive scratching, visible parasites on body, weight loss, lethargy, clamped fins

Treatment

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)

Stats

Community tips0
Kept by0 hobbyists