Plecostomus are fairly common in both the freshwater and African Cichlid hobby. The deplorable problem resides in the fact that, many aquarists have little knowledge that their is such a plethora of distinct, prestigious plecostomus’ within the aquarium trade and in nature. Without doing a little research, many aquarists fall short of truly establishing their tank superlatively by forgoing steps, that could offer such diversity and beauty, opting to take the easy way out. Commonly encountered plecos like the Bushynose, Clown, standard Hypostomus or the Rhino pleco are considered normal plecos that are basically a dime a dozen when it comes to aquiring them. The unfortunate thing is many plecos lack color, temperament, style and creativity on the aquarists part. Being that I have considerable experience in dealing with these bottom feeders and the benefits provided by any number of these plecos, whether or not, they are not as colorful or a standout within your tanks bioload, I can assure you that these animals are truly a godsend when it comes to the beneficial function they play in an aquarium of any size. Just the fact that they have a profound impact on detritus and algae growth control within your aquarium, is reason enough to incorporate one or more of these animals in your tanks biodiversity. The Ball is in your court now as to what species of pleco you desire to add to complement your tanks overall diversity and bioload.
Through taking a venturing outside of the box approach, you can invoke a realm of possibilities that accentuates a tanks bioload. Through proper exploration and the desire to place one of the more inquisitive, ostentatious and adorned family of fancy plecos in your tank, aquarists can truly accentuate their tanks bioload. The Zebra Pleco is just one of these beauties that offers a paramount piece of the puzzle towards ensuring anaquarium looks awe inspiring.
The Zebra Pleco hails from the Amazon River of South America as well as the Orinoco, Rio Negro and Xingo Rivers of Venezuela. Zebra Plecos, along with other Loricariids are armored suckermouth catfish. They contain scutes covering their bodies instead of scales with strong and sharp dorsal and pectoral spines. Species of Hypancistrus, which includes the Zebra Pleco, as well as five other plecos making up the Hypancistrus family, is composed of a high angled jaw that is less than a 90 degree angle. Their mouths consist of predominantly premaxilliary, or containing a pair of small cranial bones on the upper jaw with few dentary teeth for chewing. This is the reason why suckermouth catfish consume algae off of glass, rocks and plants through a deliberate and constant sucking technique in attempts to find food. The Zebra plecos is one of the few species of plecos that prefers a meatier diet than most of its relatives that finds algae more to its liking. Providing a Zebra pleco a balanced diet featuring both a vegetable source and a proteinaceous food staple such as mysis shrimp, aufwuchs, blood worms and beef heart will ensure the health and coloration of a Zebra pleco is optimal.
The Zebra pleco has a predominant white body with black bars that tend to be spread out over the entire body on different angles with some bars running perpendicular while others run parallel to other black marking within its body, fin and and tail regions. This particular pleco is not one that is considered beautiful due to vibrant coloration, however, what it lacks color wise it makes up for in its unique contrasting lines and bars in black and white. This is not a very common occurrence within the pleco family so this goes without saying that this is an amazing fish that offers truly an explanation point to your tanks bioload, with such bright contrasting colors that stand out.
Aquarists are always on the prowl in search of upgrading, not only, their equipment such as filtration and lighting but the number of fish and color schemes of fish as well. Ultimately, stocking an aquarium that provides little comparison between one persons tank to another affords aquarists with the ideal tank that separates their tank apart making it very special in their own right. I have seen many a tank set up featuring the same kinds of fish where diversity and creativity are never achieved. By including such incredible fish like the Zebra Pleco and you begin to break away from the commonly encountered aquarium set up stereotypes.
The Zebra pleco only attains 4 inches in size but what it lacks in its diminutive size, it makes up for in its incommensurable appearance and appeal. Being that they are benthic feeders or sometimes encountered attached to glass cleaning algae off of it, the Zebra pleco will provide movement where other fish are not likely to be thus creating balance within all areas of a tank.
Truly, the Zebra pleco offers so much to an aquarium that no one should be without one or similar species of Hypancistrus for further enjoyment and entertainment.
