| Common Name(s) | Butterfly Pleco, Chameleon Pleco, L168 |
| Scientific Name | Dekeyseria brachyuran, Ancistrus brachyurus, Peckoltia pulcher |
| Origin | South America |
| Temperature Range | 77-82°F |
| Water Parameters | pH 5.6-7 |
| Adult Size | 6 inches |
| Diet | Primarily herbivorous |
Butterfly Pleco ( L168 )
Table of Contents
Butterfly Pleco Facts
- The Butterfly Pleco has the ability to camouflage itself for protection by changing color. If you wish to see your Butterfly pleco display their gorgeous stripes, dark colored substrate should be avoided.
- They are shy fish and may display more activity at nighttime. They are not the most active fish during the day, unless there is food to be eaten.
- Butterfly plecos are generally peaceful fish. While they may attempt to guard the territory that they’ve established, they are less aggressive compared to other pleco species.
Butterfly Pleco Care
Butterfly plecos are audacious, but they do require proper care and attention. Unlike some sucker pisces, Butterly plecs can not exist on tank giantism and pine away alone. They will surely feed on alga, but their diet should be supplemented with other vegetables and fish food. They like to rasp on driftwood deoxyadenosine monophosphate well. They need clean, highly aerated water system, with a good aquarium filtration system. frequent water changes are significant as well.
Butterfly Pleco Size
Butterfly pleco will grow to a maximum size of approximately 6 inches. They are one of the smaller pleco species. other species of plecos are known to grow more than twice this size .
Habitat
Butterfly plecos boom in a habit with houseclean highly activate urine. They are frequently observe grazing for food on the bottom of flying flowing waters. enough of hiding places should be provided by plants, caves, and driftwood .
Tank Size
The minimum aquarium tank size for an adult butterfly pleco is 40 gallons. Juvenile specimen under 3 inches can be grown in a 20 gallon tank car .
Tank Mates
cooler mates for Butterfly plecos should be early similar-sized passive community pisces. They should not be kept with aggressive fish that may harass them.
Butterfly pleco are not very aggressive fish. many pleco species display territorial demeanor, but butterfly plecos are known to be less aggressive towards each early .
Food and Diet
Butterfly pleco will feed on a kind of plant matter. They are primarily herbivorous, and they feed on alga, alga wafers, spirulina tablets, and other vegetable matters. Some vegetables that can be fed to Butterfly plecs admit :
- Cucumbers
- Zucchini
- Blanched spinach
- Blanched romaine lettuce
While they primarily feed on plant topic, they will accept other protein based feed angstrom well. They will besides eat live food such as bloodworms. Adding driftwood to the tank is authoritative to allow the fish to rasp on it. This will provide the necessary roughage to aid in their digestion and prevent bloat .
Lifespan
The expected life for Butterfly plecos is 5 years. Some will live longer than 7 years if kept in a clean environment with a estimable diet. According to the Smithsonian ’ s National Zoo, the modal life for plecostomus is 10 to 15 years. This means that Butterfly plecos has a shorter life than other early plecos .
Sexing
Males and females are alike, but it is possible to distinguish them. The males will have a slenderly broader head. The males will besides have larger pectoral spines and odontodes. The females will have a slightly fuller body.
Butterfly Pleco Breeding
Butterfly plecos breed in caves or cave-like structures. This breeding demeanor can be observed in many other pleco species, and they are known as cave-spawners. big water changes of up to 50-75 % can encourage breeding behavior. The water deepen can mimic the showery season, which is when they breed in the rampantly. They prefer delicate acidic body of water adenine good. Slightly cool water can stimulate breeding behavior a well. After the male finds a suitable descry, he will get the female to lay her eggs there. Afterwards, the male will fan the eggs and protect them against predators. It will take 5-7 days for the eggs to hatch. once hatched, the electrocute will have a egg yolk pouch, which will be used up identical cursorily. They will start eating early food such as alga soon afterwards. During the initial period, the water parameters must be monitored close since the child are sensitive to water quality. LAW MIGHT BAN MANY AQUARIUM FISH IN THE U.S.
Amendments to the COMPETES Act, H.R. 4521 wants to ban many fish and other animals in the U.S. unless they are specifically whitelisted. The House passed H.R. 4521 on the morning of February 4, 2022. The future of H.R. 4521 is now in the hands of the U.S. Senate. Read the latest update from USARK and Reef 2 Rainforest Media.
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