Photo: Christian Dresel http://www.aquaristikfreaks.de, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tiger pleco
Peckoltia compta
8 cm
Adult size
100 L
Minimum volume
1
Minimum group
15 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Peckoltia
- Diet
- carnivore and herbivore
- Social life
- solitary
In the wild
Overview
Long known to hobbyists by the code L134 or the name “leopard frog pleco”, this small loricariid was only described in 2010 by a team of Brazilian researchers (de Oliveira, Zuanon, Rapp Py-Daniel and Rocha). Compta means “adorned” in Latin, for its broad dark brown bands on a yellow background.
It differs from other Peckoltia by a pale line inside the dark bands running from the snout to the eyes. It barely exceeds 8 cm. The IUCN lists it as endangered.
- Scientific name
- Peckoltia compta De Oliveira, Zuanon, Rapp Py-Daniel & Rocha, 2010
- Classification
- Siluriformes › Loricariidae
- IUCN Red List
- Endangered (EN)
Natural habitat
Rio Tapajós basin (Pará, Brazil)
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
It is native to the Rio Tapajós basin, a large clear-water tributary on the right bank of the Amazon, in Brazil.
It lives among rocks and wood piles in flowing stretches, in clear, warm, well-oxygenated water. Its populations are exposed to dam projects and gold mining in the basin.
Behaviour
Peaceful with midwater fish, it is territorial towards other small plecos and defends its hiding place. Mainly nocturnal, it shelters by day in caves and crevices.
An omnivore, it eats sinking food, small frozen prey and a little plant matter. It is a cave spawner: the male guards the eggs in a narrow shelter until the fry are independent.