Yellow Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus furunculus)

From Pet Wiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Yellow Zebra Pleco
Hypancistrus furunculus
Yellow Zebra Pleco (Hypancistrus furunculus)
Name Yellow Zebra Pleco
Name Lat. Hypancistrus furunculus
Synonym L199
Family Suckermouth Armoured Catfishes
Family lat. Loricariidae
Order Catfishes
Order lat. Siluriformes
Origin Venezuela
Habitat Streams
Diet Omnivore, soft wood
pH 6.0-7.5
Behavior Peaceful
Keeping Individual, harem
Care Level Difficult
Reproduction Cave spawner
Breeding Difficult
Life Span 5-8 years
Protection No
Metric Units
Size 10-12 cm
Temperature 23-26 °C
Hardness 1-15 °dH
Aquarium ~ 150 l
US Units
Size 4"-5"
Temperature 73-79 °F
Hardness 18-267 ppm
Aquarium ~ 40 gal

Distribution and habitat

Orinoco tiger catfish are native to the upper Orinoco inlet in Venezuela. They live in oxygen-rich, fast-flowing, small rivers and streams in shallow water, with sandy bottoms and boulders.

Maintenance

The aquarium should have a robust planting with numerous caves made of stones and roots that provide hiding places. A sandy substrate with round gravel and a strong current is ideal.

No ammonia, ammonium or nitrite should be detectable, and the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and the oxygen content, a filter adapted to the aquarium size and a heater are 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

Males are often intraspecific and territorial towards other loricariids. Several animals should be kept in a harem (one male with 2-3 females) and only in large, richly structured tanks. They are very peaceful towards other fish and can be socialized well with them

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 spawn in caves. The clutch consists of up to 20 eggs and is cared for by the male. The larvae hatch after about 7 days and swim free after another 6-7 days.

The fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food. In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.

Important

Aquarium plants do not serve as food for them and are hardly nibbled or eaten.

When catching them, 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); 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