Alligator Plec

Care

The Alligator Plec is known from the Marañon and Ucayali River basins. This is a large bottom-dweller that requires a spacious aquarium. Provide plenty of shady hiding places amongst large pieces of bogwood and rocky caves. Most plants tend to be uprooted and eaten so are probably best omitted, although some aquarists have had success with tying robust species such as Java Fern or Anubias spp. to the bogwood. Filtration should be efficient as these fish are messy eaters. There should be moderate water movement, and frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. The Alligator Plec is generally peaceful, but it will show territorial aggression towards its own kind and similar species if not given enough space. Tankmates could include any medium sized shoaling fish that occupy the mid to upper levels of the water column. May also be seen on sale as the Chocolate Pleco.

Feeding

Omnivorous. Offer a variety of different foodstuffs containing some vegetable matter. Cucumber, courgette, lettuce, squash etc should all be enthusiastically consumed, and these can be supplemented with sinking wafers/catfish tablets, and meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm and chopped prawns.

Breeding

This species has not been bred in the home aquarium.