Ocelot Pleco L174 (Hypancistrus sp. 'L174')

Ocelot Pleco L174 Hypancistrus sp. 'L174'
Name	Ocelot Pleco L174
Name Lat.	Hypancistrus sp. 'L174'
Family	Suckermouth Armoured Catfishes
Family lat.	Loricariidae
Order	Catfishes
Order lat.	Siluriformes
Origin	Brazil
Habitat	Rivers, streams
Diet	Omnivore, soft wood
pH	5.0-7.5
Behavior	Peaceful
Keeping	Individual, group
Care Level	Moderate
Reproduction	Cave spawner
Breeding	Difficult
Life Span	N/A
Protection	No
Metric Units
Size	6-8 cm
Temperature	27-30 °C
Hardness	1-15 °dH
Aquarium	~ 100 l
US Units
Size	2.5"-3"
Temperature	80-85 °F
Hardness	18-267 ppm
Aquarium	~ 25 gal

Distribution and habitat

The Ocelot Dwarf Catfish L174 originate from the Rio Xingu watershed in Para, Brazil. They live in oxygen-rich, fast-flowing, small rivers and streams with sandy bottoms and boulders.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a robust planting with numerous caves from stones and roots, which offer hiding places. A sandy substrate with round gravel and soft, slightly acidic water and a moderate current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.

Diet

They prefer animal food, except for juveniles, which feed mainly on vegetable food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for loricariid catfish (granules, pellets, chips, tablets), supplemented with algae leaves, soft wood and fresh vegetables, such as zucchini, broccoli, bruised peas, scalded spinach, as well as zoopankton, cyclops, daphnia, artemia, mosquito larvae, shrimp and mussel meat (live or frozen)

Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes, excluding plant foods. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.

Behaviour and compatibility

They are crepuscular to nocturnal. Males occasionally behave territorially within the tank, but also towards other loricariids, therefore several animals should only be kept in larger, richly structured tanks. They are very peaceful towards other fish and are well suited for a community aquarium.

Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.

Sex dimorphism

Males have a thickened first pectoral fin ray and more and longer odontodes (pointed skin teeth) than females.

Reproduction and breeding

They are cave breeders and the small clutch (10-20 eggs) is cared for by the male. After 6-7 days the fry swim free and must be fed several times a day with special rearing food. In a community tank breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.

Important

Aquarium plants basically do not serve as food for them, but they can be damaged or uprooted.

When catching, use nets with as fine a mesh as possible so that the hard rays of the pectoral fins or the skin teeth (odontodes) do not get caught on the bone plates, which can cause painful puncture wounds when touched.

The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even when contaminant levels have not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.

Further literature can be found in your pet store.

References

Text: Werner Winter; Image: petdata

Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (1997): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 5, Mergus Verlag; ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch; SCHMIDT, WERNER, LECHNER (2005): MiniAtlas L-Welse, Bede Verlag 

• Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF