Leopard sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
A tall-finned pleco with a brocade pattern that is sold at 2 inches and grows to about 20, needing a very large tank and heavy filtration.
Key facts
- Body length
- 19.7 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 187 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- 20–25 years
- Diet
- Algae wafers, vegetables, sinking pellets
- Origin
- Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America
- Hardier than17%
- Bigger than97%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Leopard sailfin pleco tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- BettaGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasLeopard sailfin pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Panda corydoras.Risky
- OtocinclusLeopard sailfin pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Otocinclus.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Leopard sailfin pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidLeopard sailfin pleco outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoLeopard sailfin pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Bristlenose pleco.Risky
- Common plecoLeopard sailfin pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Amazon sailfin catfish (common pleco).Risky
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Leopard sailfin pleco: prey body depth 8.0 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- AxolotlAxolotl should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Crystal red shrimpCrystal red shrimp should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Figure eight pufferFigure eight puffer nips fins; Leopard sailfin pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer).Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for leopard sailfin plecos: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 50 cm (TL)
- Adult mass
- 1280.00 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 96.58 BU
- Min. water
- 600 L net
- Min. footprint
- 180 × 60 cm per specimen
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- moderate
- Body / fins
- depressed flat, normal fins
- Diet type
- herbivore
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Wikipedia: Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps · ScotCat: Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
Care notes
Leopard sailfin plecos come from slow rivers and flooded forests of the Amazon and Orinoco. Their network pattern and huge dorsal fin look striking, and young fish can grow very fast in the first year.
Plan for a tank around 180 gallons and 6 feet long, with a strong canister filter, because they produce a lot of waste. They are territorial toward other plecos, may dig up plants as they grow, and can live more than 20 years.
Questions
What size tank does a leopard sailfin pleco need?
At least 187 gallons (600 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 19.7 inches without fins.
How many leopard sailfin plecos should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do leopard sailfin plecos need?
77–86 °F, pH 5–7 and 0–0 dGH. Leopard sailfin plecos come from Amazon and Orinoco basins, South America.
How long do leopard sailfin plecos live?
20–25 years with good care.
What fish can live with leopard sailfin plecos?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Cherry shrimp and Betta. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.