Care
The Spotted Cactus Plec is known from the Lower Amazon, Rio Para, and the Rio Tocantins. The aquarium housing this robust species must be spacious with powerful filtration to match. The substrate should consist of soft sand or smooth rounded gravel with large pieces of bogwood arranged to create a number of shady caves and crevices. Rockwork can also be provided, but you must ensure this is heavy enough and stable enough not to be disturbed by the movement of this sizeable catfish. There should be brisk water movement and a high level of oxygenation, perhaps provided by powerheads (in addition to the current generated by the filtration). Dim lighting is preferable, but this can be brighter if diffused by the decor. It is best to keep only one Spotted Cactus Plec per tank, as these fish can be fiercely territorial with conspecifics and other bottom dwellers that occupy the same niche. It is not unknown for mature specimens to harass and kill other large plecs and similar species when kept in slightly cramped quarters, so choose tankmates cautiously and observe carefully. The most suitable tankmates would be medium-large sized fish which occupy the mid to upper levels of the water column, such as larger barbs, big Anostomids (headstanders), Brycon spp., Metynnis/Myleus spp., pike cichlids etc. May also be seen on sale as Spiny Monster Pleco.
Feeding
Omnivorous. Smaller specimens can be offered bloodworm, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp etc. Larger specimens will enjoy prawns, cockles, mussels, crab, crayfish etc. Will also take large sinking catfish pellets, algae wafers, sinking carnivore pellets, plus many fruits and vegetables.
Breeding
This species has been bred in the home aquarium. Around 200 orange-coloured eggs are deposited in a cave, which the male guards and takes care of. The eggs should hatch in approximately 7 days, the fry initially gaining nutrition from their yolk sacs.
