Hypostomus plecostomus
Encyclopedia
Hypostomus plecostomus, the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical fish
belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae
), named for the armor-like longitudinal rows of scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked). Although the name Hypostomus plecostomus is often used to refer to common plecostomi sold in aquarium shops, most are actually members of other genera.
Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a food fish, although they are at least occasionally consumed over their native range. However, they are of great value in the aquarium trade in the United States
.
and South America
; it naturally occurs on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and both slopes of Panama, southward to Uruguay, Guianan coastal drainages, Guyana and Suriname. H. plecostomus occur in the wild in fresh running waters and brackish waters of river mouths.
H. plecostomus have been introduced into some areas of Southern US (Florida
and Texas
), most likely released by aquarists into the local waters. For example, they are present in a lake in the neighborhood of Hammock Trace Preserve in Melbourne, FL. In Texas, reproducing populations occur in spring-influenced habitats of the San Antonio River (Bexar County), Comal Springs (Comal County), San Marcos River (Hays County), and San Felipe Creek (Val Verde County).
They have also been introduced to several Asia
n countries, as well in the Philippines, where they are now considered a pest in areas in and around the Laguna de Bay. Suckermouth catfish are often cultured in ponds in Singapore
and Hong Kong
, where they are very popular for the aquarium trade.
In the aquarium, this dark-colored, bottom-feeding, nocturnal catfish is often purchased for its ability to clean algae
from fish tanks. Being nocturnal, they usually avoid light and like to hide in dark places, coming out to feed at night. However, in aquaria, they can learn to be active in the daytime. They can tolerate a range of conditions. In their natural habitat, this species feeds on algae, aquatic weed
s and other plant
matter and small crustacean
s. While vigorous algae eaters when they are young and small, as they grow, they begin to phase out algae in favor of aquatic plants and other larger foods, and cannot thrive on a diet of only algae. Their diet should be supplemented with blanched leafy green vegetables such as romaine lettuce
, kale
, and spinach
, as well as commercial sinking tablet food designed for herbivores, such as algae wafers, and small portions of meaty foods, such as whole table shrimp or krill. While respectable algae consumers when young, their large size and appetites actually make them impractical in this role except for very large aquariums. Indeed, the large amount of waste an adult produces may actually help feed algae and fuel more growth. Their role is better filled in the average hobbyists aquarium by invertebrates such as Caridina multidentata and various species of snails, or simply with regular maintenance with an algae scraping implement. Otocinclus
spp. and Ancistrus
spp. are related Loricariids, which are more suitable for algae-consuming purposes in the average hobbyists aquarium.
s used to describe H. plecostomus, where plecostomus and the shortened "pleco" are interchangeable in all common names. The names include:
Most of these common names are used for other species as well, which only serves to augment the confusion surrounding H. plecostomus and other Loricariidae such as H. punctatus
, Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus
and P. pardalis
.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae
Loricariidae
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish , with almost 700 species and new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and...
), named for the armor-like longitudinal rows of scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked). Although the name Hypostomus plecostomus is often used to refer to common plecostomi sold in aquarium shops, most are actually members of other genera.
Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a food fish, although they are at least occasionally consumed over their native range. However, they are of great value in the aquarium trade in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Distribution and habitat
This species' native range is tropical Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
; it naturally occurs on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica and both slopes of Panama, southward to Uruguay, Guianan coastal drainages, Guyana and Suriname. H. plecostomus occur in the wild in fresh running waters and brackish waters of river mouths.
H. plecostomus have been introduced into some areas of Southern US (Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
), most likely released by aquarists into the local waters. For example, they are present in a lake in the neighborhood of Hammock Trace Preserve in Melbourne, FL. In Texas, reproducing populations occur in spring-influenced habitats of the San Antonio River (Bexar County), Comal Springs (Comal County), San Marcos River (Hays County), and San Felipe Creek (Val Verde County).
They have also been introduced to several Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n countries, as well in the Philippines, where they are now considered a pest in areas in and around the Laguna de Bay. Suckermouth catfish are often cultured in ponds in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where they are very popular for the aquarium trade.
In the aquarium
H. plecostomus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as "plecostomus" or "common pleco" by aquarists. The suckermouth catfish is named for its sucker-like mouth, which allows it to adhere to a surface, as well as to hold and rasp at food. These fish are sold when they are young and small, but they can grow to be a maximum size of 50 centimetres (19.7 in).In the aquarium, this dark-colored, bottom-feeding, nocturnal catfish is often purchased for its ability to clean algae
Algae
Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...
from fish tanks. Being nocturnal, they usually avoid light and like to hide in dark places, coming out to feed at night. However, in aquaria, they can learn to be active in the daytime. They can tolerate a range of conditions. In their natural habitat, this species feeds on algae, aquatic weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s and other plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
matter and small crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s. While vigorous algae eaters when they are young and small, as they grow, they begin to phase out algae in favor of aquatic plants and other larger foods, and cannot thrive on a diet of only algae. Their diet should be supplemented with blanched leafy green vegetables such as romaine lettuce
Romaine lettuce
Romaine or cos lettuce is a variety of lettuce which grows in a tall head of sturdy leaves with a firm rib down the center. Unlike most lettuces, it is tolerant of heat...
, kale
Kale
Kale is very high in beta carotene, vitamin K, vitamin C, lutein, zeaxanthin, and reasonably rich in calcium. Kale, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane , a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties. Boiling decreases the level of sulforaphane; however, steaming,...
, and spinach
Spinach
Spinach is an edible flowering plant in the family of Amaranthaceae. It is native to central and southwestern Asia. It is an annual plant , which grows to a height of up to 30 cm. Spinach may survive over winter in temperate regions...
, as well as commercial sinking tablet food designed for herbivores, such as algae wafers, and small portions of meaty foods, such as whole table shrimp or krill. While respectable algae consumers when young, their large size and appetites actually make them impractical in this role except for very large aquariums. Indeed, the large amount of waste an adult produces may actually help feed algae and fuel more growth. Their role is better filled in the average hobbyists aquarium by invertebrates such as Caridina multidentata and various species of snails, or simply with regular maintenance with an algae scraping implement. Otocinclus
Otocinclus
Otocinclus is a genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae commonly called "dwarf suckers" or "otos". Otocinclus originate from tropical, freshwater rivers in South America.-Taxonomy:...
spp. and Ancistrus
Ancistrus
Ancistrus is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes. Fish of this genus are commonly known as the bushynose or bristlenose plecos.-Taxonomy:The type species is Ancistrus cirrhosus...
spp. are related Loricariids, which are more suitable for algae-consuming purposes in the average hobbyists aquarium.
Breeding
Due to the adult size of these catfish, most successful breedings have occurred in ponds with steep clay or mud banks. They dig tunnels close to the water level and the males guard the eggs until they hatch.Common names
There is a large variety of common nameCommon name
A common name of a taxon or organism is a name in general use within a community; it is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism...
s used to describe H. plecostomus, where plecostomus and the shortened "pleco" are interchangeable in all common names. The names include:
- common algae sucker/eater
- common pleco
- janitor fish
- municipal fish - 'ikan bandaraya' in Malaysian
- spotted pleco
- sucker fish
- suckermouth catfish
- sucking catfish
Most of these common names are used for other species as well, which only serves to augment the confusion surrounding H. plecostomus and other Loricariidae such as H. punctatus
Hypostomus punctatus
The Suckermouthed Catfish is a tropical fish known as a Plecostomus belonging to the armored suckermouth catfish family . Hypostomus punctatus is a freshwater fish native to South America, in the coastal drainages of southeastern Brazil...
, Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus
Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus
Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus is a tropical fish known as a Plecostomus belonging to the armored catfish family . Named for its sail-like dorsal fin, the part of its scientific name multiradiatus means "many-rayed" and refers to the rays of the dorsal fin. P...
and P. pardalis
Pterygoplichthys pardalis
Pterygoplichthys pardalis is a tropical fish, a Plecostomus in the Armored Catfish family . Some synonyms for this species are Hypostomus pardalis, Liposarcus pardalis, Liposarcus varius, and Liposarcus jeanesianus. It is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the Common Pleco or...
.