Care
The Rusty Plec is known from the Paraguay and middle Parana River basins.
Provide a mature aquarium with plenty of shady hiding places amongst tangles of bogwood (essential as part of the diet of this fish), rocky caves, PVC pipes, and bamboo tubes. Unfortunately, most plants will be eaten - even relatively hardy species - although some aquarists have success cultivating Java Fern, which reportedly has a bitter taste. Filtration should be efficient with areas of brisk water movement along with some quieter resting spots out of the current. There should be a decent level of oxygenation, and small frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. The Rusty Plec is generally peaceful, but it will show some territorial aggression towards its own kind if not given enough space. In most instances though, they can be maintained in small groups and with other Loricariids as long as there is adequate room and enough hiding places to go round. Tankmates could include any small-medium sized peaceful fish that enjoy fast-flowing water. Depending on various factors, including mood, sex, age, or surroundings, these fish are capable of quite considerable colour change. May also be seen on sale as the Cochliodon Pleco or Violet Cochliodon.
Feeding
The Rusty Plec is xylophagus (a wood-eater) so requires access to wood on an ongoing basis. In addition, offer a variety of different foodstuffs containing a good proportion of vegetable matter. Courgette, cucumber, kale, lettuce, potato, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato etc should all be enthusiastically consumed, and these can be supplemented with sinking wafers/tablets, and the odd treat of meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm and chopped prawns.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium.
