Page 131 - Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish, 3rd Edition

CATFISH/LORICARIIDS 129

Peckoltia species
Orange-Tipped Pleco L076 include rockwork and bogwood in the tank. These
plecos will not usually damage aquatic plants, and
ORIGINS South America, although its precise distribution they generally ignore any algae growing in the
is unclear. aquarium. Orange-Tipped Plecos are most active
SIZE 6 in (15 cm). toward dusk. They prefer to feed on items such as
DIET Mainly meat-based foods. chopped shrimp. It is important not to allow the
WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft nitrate level in the tank to build
(50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). up, so make regular partial
TEMPERAMENT Relatively peaceful. water changes to keep
this under control.
The characteristic orange tips on the rear of
the fins distinguish these Plecos from similar
species. The other parts of the fins are a darker,
olive-brown shade, and the body is slightly
silvery-gray with dark markings.
Orange-Tipped Plecos can be sexed by
the rays on the pectoral fins; in
males, they have a serrated edge
with toothlike projections
known as odontodes, while in
females, the rays are
smooth-edged. The female’s
body is also wider at this
point than the male’s. Pairs
will spawn in caves and can
be rather territorial during
the breeding period. To reduce tensions, Male
divide their aquarium into discrete sections, and

Dekeyseria pulchra Dekeyseria species
UNIQUE EYE-LOBE
Pretty Peckoltia L103 Butterfly Peckoltia L052
The eye structure of loricariids is unique
ORIGINS South America, occurring in the Rio Negro, ORIGINS South America, occurring in parts of the among vertebrates. On close examination,
close to Moura, Brazil. Orinoco basin. a protruding lobe can be seen on the iris.
SIZE 2 ⁄4 in (6 cm). SIZE 5 in (12.5 cm). This lobe, which is often colorful, forms the
1
DIET Mainly plant matter, including algae. DIET Omnivorous. outer ring of the eye. Loricariid catfish lack
WATER Temperature 75–82°F (24–28°C); hard WATER Temperature 73–82°F (23–28°C); soft the pupillary reflex of other vertebrates, in
(100–150 mg/l) and neutral (pH 7.0). (50–100 mg/l) and acidic (pH 6.0). which the size of the pupil adjusts in response
TEMPERAMENT Peaceful. TEMPERAMENT Territorial. to changes in the lighting conditions. Instead,
they use their eye-lobe to regulate the
Patterned The coloration of these catfish, which can vary amount of light entering the eye. In well-lit
dorsal fin widely, is partly dependent on their background. surroundings, the lobe enlarges to cover more
Their patterning of alternating light and dark of the pupil, while in dim light it recedes to
patches (seen in the example below) allow in as much light as possible.
disappears rapidly if the fish are transferred
to a tank with a dark substrate and may also
be affected by the lighting. Pairs spawn in the
relative safety of a cave, with the female laying
Extended
Evident stripes mouth up to 120 eggs. These may take 10 days to hatch,
by which time the fry have used up virtually all of
Broad, wavy lines over the body and fins typify the their yolk sacs. The young of this species can be
Pretty Peckoltia, which is valued for its small size reared on brine shrimp.
and docile nature. It is vital to establish favorable
environmental conditions and profuse algal growth
in the tank before acquiring these fish, because
plant matter forms the bulk of their diet. An
aquarium for Pretty Peckoltias should include
a range of hiding places, such as partially buried
flowerpots. More delicate plants may be eaten.

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