Zebra pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
A black-and-white pleco from the Rio Xingu, one of the most prized aquarium fish; needs warm, clean, fast water and rocky caves.
Key facts
- Body length
- 3.1 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 17 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Peaceful, shy
- Care level
- 4 / 5
- Lifespan
- Not well documented
- Diet
- Frozen bloodworm and brine shrimp, sinking carnivore pellets
- Origin
- Rio Xingu, Brazil
- Hardier than7%
- Bigger than51%
- Calmer than68%
Water: their range vs yours
Zebra pleco tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets 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
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blood parrot cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bronze coryGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cardinal tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- DiscusGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyFancy guppy outcompetes the slow-eating Zebra pleco for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Panda corydorasZebra pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Panda corydoras.Risky
- OtocinclusZebra pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Otocinclus.Risky
- Tiger barbTiger barb nips fins; Zebra pleco is vulnerable (slow swimmer). Risk is reduced: the group is at least the recommended size.Risky
- Amano shrimpAmano shrimp outcompetes the slow-eating Zebra pleco for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Bristlenose plecoZebra pleco attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Bristlenose pleco.Risky
- Blue dolphin cichlidBlue dolphin cichlid can eat Zebra pleco: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 6.3 cm.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Zebra pleco: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- OscarOscar can eat Zebra pleco: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 12.3 cm.Avoid
- SeverumSeverum can eat Zebra pleco: prey body depth 1.6 cm ≤ mouth 5.0 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
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for zebra plecos: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 8 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 10.24 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 3.72 BU
- Min. water
- 54 L net
- Min. footprint
- 60 × 30 cm per group
- Group
- 1+ (best 6)
- Swims in
- bottom
- Flow
- high
- Body / fins
- depressed flat, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore meat
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- copper
Sources: Seriously Fish: Hypancistrus zebra
Care notes
Zebra plecos (L046) live among rocks in fast, oxygen-rich stretches of the Rio Xingu in Brazil. Export from Brazil has been banned since 2004, so the fish on sale are captive-bred and expensive.
Keep them at 79–86°F with strong flow and plenty of caves. They are meat eaters, not algae cleaners, and are shy and territorial toward other bottom dwellers, so they do best as the only bottom fish in the tank.
Questions
What size tank does a zebra pleco need?
At least 17 gallons (54 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 3.1 inches without fins.
How many zebra plecos should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do zebra plecos need?
79–86 °F, pH 6–7.5 and 2–15 dGH. Zebra plecos come from Rio Xingu, Brazil.
How long do zebra plecos live?
Not well documented with good care.
What fish can live with zebra plecos?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Cherry shrimp, Betta and Angelfish. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.