L015 Candy Striped Pleco 3.5cm
- Buy 2 for $126.79 each and save 10%
- Buy 4 for $112.70 each and save 20%
The Candy Striped pleco is not very commonly available so great to see some come through
Vittata means decorated with a ribbon and refers to the bands of colour on its body.
A medium sized pleco that can be combined with a variety of tankmates due to being a bottom dweller. Perfectly safe with small fishes and shrimp or robust enough to withstand the attention of all but the largest cichlids. They can be territorial though if tank is too small or not enough room/ homes if you have them housed with multiple other plecos.
pH - 5.8 - 7
Temp - 22 - 26 C
Males do grow small teeth-like odontodes which adorn the leading pectoral fin rays and the back half of the fishes body whereas the females remain unadorned and have a wider girth across the body most evident when the area just behind the pectoral fins is viewed from above.
Provide plenty of driftwoods and rocks for them to retreat to and they do prefer feeding on these rather than the glass of the Aquarium. They also will eat pleco wafers and scavenge around for left over food at the bottom of the Aquarium.
They are nocturnal so can be quite shy and timid during they day or when lights are on and opt to come out when it is evening or darker in the Aquarium.
The Candy Striped pleco has often been confused in hobby specifications with the fish we now know as Panaque maccus, the clown pleco, as an example the Baensch Atlas Vol. 1 has a picture of Panaque maccus with the label Peckoltia vittata next to it. As with most Loricariids, colouration depends on mood as many do have similar colours and markings.