Ensuring that you have an ample supply of bottom feeders, more specifically, algae eaters is essential to ensuring substrate is maintained and algae controlled. Many pet shops tanks are inundated with basic plecostomus’ that are literally a dime a dozen and it seems that aquarists can’t be bothered with exploring the many possibilities that abound them as far as the plethora of really exotic plecostomus specimens there are available. Royal Blue, Para, Sunshine, Blue Phantom and Emerald plecos are just the tip of the iceberg. Then, their is the Mango Pleco that hails from the Amazon River Basin of South America.
The Mango Pleco is such a rare pleco in the hobby. Combined with its glamourous color scheme and exquisite patterns, if you ever get the opportunity to see a Mango Pleco in any venue selling aquatic life, you would be doing yourself a big favor by investing in one of these unique animals to diversify your bioload and add a jaw dropping fish to your repertoire. I have had experience with many of these upper end plecostomus’ and believe you me, they are remarkable and would not steer you down a road less traveled, just to have someone buy one of these fish just for publicity purposes. I deal with these on a personal level in my own aquariums as well as through my jobs at a couple local pet shops in my area on a grander scale.
Mango plecos are clearly a leader when it comes to color and dramatic impact on an aquariums benthic area of an aquarium. Talking about a beautiful fish that really has no equal with regards to it coloration, this fish is a rare find in the hobby, however, when you can locate one you will not be disappointed by what you will find. Lime green body sporting a yellow streak on both its dorsal and caudal fins provides such a nice contrast to differentiate this gem from all other plecostomus’. True, their are a plethora of high priced plecos that can rival these with their spots, lines and intricate designs combined with contrasting color combinations, but nothing compared to the Mango Pleco.
These plecos are fairly easy to raise in captivity with breeding activities possible under the right conditions. Like many plecostomus, a tank heavily stocked with driftwood, plants and rock work is ideal especially to induce breeding activity, not to mention offering these plecos a place to hide. Ideal water parameters including efficient water flow is pertinent as is the maintaining one of these in a 70 gallon tank or larger. Water conditions should be on the alkaline side with a pH around 7.8.
Feeding Mango Plecos is not very difficult so you don’t have to be a rocket scientist or possess a PhD in nuclear physiology to have any hopes of maintaining one of these benthic creatures in your aquarium. These fish are not finicky so flakes, pellet or frozen food stuff is adequate to keep a Mango Pleco healthy and displaying its natural vibrant coloration. This animal will feed constantly on uneaten food and algae growth within the benthic areas of your tank. Offering additional food sources like freeze dried bloodworms and tubifex that are high in protein supplement its vegetable diet rather nicely, providing a varied diet to ensure health and vibrant color are achieved and maintained.
As for compatibility with fellow tank mates is concerned, often their are no problems with aggression between other plecostomus species, smaller community fish or even many larger cichlid species coexisting in the same tank with a Mango. The only issue is to ensure that the Mango Pleco is able to have ample opportunity to find food since many fish species are quicker and hang out in the pelagic areas often being the first ones to attack the food offered. Pellets or sinking wafers can help to alleviate this problem to ensure that some food is able to sink to the bottom for Mangos and other benthic feeders such as catfish and loaches to have a chance of finding.
So if your looking for a bottom feeder that can be classified as a nice showpiece or to ad that explanation point to your tanks repertoire, the Mango Pleco should definitely be part of the equation. The hardest part of maintaining a Mango Pleco is finding one. But through an aggressive search and find tactic, this fish will not allude you, nor should it allude your tank, by any means!
