Rubber lip pleco
Chaetostoma formosae · Loricariidae
Also known as Bulldog pleco
Intermediate
A cool-water, hard-working algae grazer that stays modest in size.
In short: A rubber lip pleco needs at least 110 L (29 US gal), water at 20–25 °C (68–77 °F) and pH 6.5–8. It is peaceful, usually kept singly, and rated intermediate to keep.
Updated
- Minimum tank
- 110 L (29 US gal)
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Adult size
- 12 cm (4.7 in)
- Group size
- 1+
Care requirements
- Minimum tank volume
- 110 L (29 US gal)
- Temperature
- 20–25 °C (68–77 °F)
- pH
- 6.5–8
- Hardness
- 5–20 dGH
- Lifespan
- 8–12 years
- Diet
- Herbivore — algae, wafers, blanched veg.
- Care level
- Intermediate
Origin & habitat
- Native region
- Andean foothill rivers, Colombia and Venezuela
- Water type
- Freshwater
- Biotope
- Cool, fast, rocky streams
- Natural conditions
- Cool, high-oxygen, strongly flowing water.
Behaviour & stocking
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Minimum group
- 1 fish
- Swims
- Bottom
- Good tank mates
- DaniosHillstream loachBarbs
- Avoid
- Warm discus tanksLow-oxygen setups
Breeding & difficulty
- Breeding difficulty
- Advanced
- Sexing
- Males have more head odontodes.
- Notes
- Rarely bred in aquaria.
- Common ailments
- Heat and low-oxygen stressStarvation in clean new tanks
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