No photo yet
Sign in to submit the first photo
Rubber Lip Pleco
Chaetostoma milesi
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Siluriformes›Loricariidae
📍 Andean rivers, Colombia & Venezuela
A compact, efficient algae-eating pleco that stays small. Prefers cooler water temperatures with good flow and oxygenation. Hardy and peaceful, it clings to glass, rocks, and driftwood grazing on biofilm and algae throughout the day.
Care Guide
Diet
Rubber Lip Plecos are primarily algae grazers and biofilm feeders, spending most of their time consuming algae from surfaces and driftwood. Supplement their diet 2-3 times weekly with blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, spinach) and quality sinking algae wafers. They rarely accept standard fish flakes but will opportunistically consume leftover food and decaying plant matter.
Behavior
These plecos are nocturnal and peaceful bottom-dwellers that spend daylight hours hiding in caves or under driftwood. They are solitary and non-aggressive toward other fish, though males may defend small territories at night. Unlike larger plecos, they remain relatively unobtrusive and rarely uproot plants or cause disturbance in established tanks.
Breeding
Breeding Rubber Lip Plecos in captivity is difficult and rarely achieved in home aquariums. They require specific cave structures, cooler water temperatures (18-20°C), and stable conditions to trigger spawning behavior. Success is uncommon without extensive experience and dedicated breeding setups.
Tank Mates
Similar size, peaceful algae grazers with identical water requirements and non-competitive feeding habits
Small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy mid-water zones and won't compete for bottom space
Peaceful dwarf cichlid that prefers warmer water but tolerant of cooler conditions; minimal competition
Peaceful invertebrates that occupy similar bottom zones; Rubber Lips are too large to predate them
Small, peaceful schooling fish that occupy upper water columns and have compatible water chemistry needs
Larger shrimp species that won't be threatened; both are algae-focused and non-aggressive
Common Diseases
Ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis)
White spots on body and fins, rapid breathing, lethargy, rubbing against surfaces
Gradually raise temperature to 28-30°C over 48 hours, maintain for 10-14 days, or use ich-specific medication; ensure excellent water quality and aeration
Fin Rot
Frayed or deteriorating fins, discoloration at fin edges, lethargy
Perform 25-30% water changes every 2-3 days, improve water quality, add aquarium salt (1 tsp per 5 gallons), and consider antibacterial medication if severe
Bacterial Infection
Open sores, cloudy patches on skin, loss of appetite, behavioral changes
Isolate affected fish, perform frequent water changes, maintain pristine water conditions, and use broad-spectrum antibiotic medication if necessary
Malnutrition
Stunted growth, thin appearance, lethargy, pale coloration
Ensure consistent feeding of quality algae wafers and vegetables; supplement with spirulina-based foods and maintain stable water parameters
Community Photos
0 photosPhotos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.
No photos yet — add a tank with Rubber Lip Pleco to be the first!
Sign in to vote.
Tips from the community 💡
0 tipsReal experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.
Sign in to share your experience.
No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!
Quick Facts
- diet
- Herbivore – algae, blanched vegetables, spirulina wafers
- lifespan
- 10–12 years
- max size
- 12 cm (5 in)
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 5–15 dGH
- temperature
- 68–77°F (20–25°C)