Parotocinclus jumbo

Alternative names

 * PitBull Pleco,, LDA25

Sexing

 * The male has longer pelvic fins.

Tank compatibility

 * A small and peaceful small Pleco species. Can be housed with other similar-sized fish species. It is happiest in groups of its own kind, it is not overly territorial with its own species at all.

Diet

 * Should mainly be fed algae and spirulina pellets and flakes as well as blanched vegetables. May also nibble meaty foods like bloodworm if put in for other fish, but this shouldn't form a regular part of their diet.

Feeding regime

 * This fish is primarily nocturnal so is best fed after lights out.

Environment Specifics

 * Likes a planted aquarium and shaded areas to hide during the day. Keep in groups of 2 or more. Likes a sand substrate to enable it to bury itself if alarmed.

Behaviour

 * This cat fish spends most of its time lying on the substrate except when it feeds at night. It will spend most of its time lying around in shaded areas of the tank. But very active for a small Pleco.
 * Known to adopt Bronze Corys if present and even mimics their air breathing habit!

Special Notes

 * Often mistaken for a Otocinclus when young.In fact many fish keepers would recommend these relatively hardy catfish as a good alternative to otos due to their similar and size and due to their hardiness.
 * Like many Plecos this species has an interesting adaptation of being able to live in reduced oxygenated water. It adapts a part of its indigestion system to absorb oxygen from gulps of air, rather like the Corydoras species.
 * Their colour can vary from a pale grey to almost black depending on the colour of the substrate that they are kept on.