PlanetCatfish.com - Hypostomus plecostomoides (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Loricariidae Hypostominae Hypostomus | |

Juvenile
Adult taken immediately after collection
Adult taken immediately after collection
Close-up of underside of head
Habitat: Collecting adult fish from driftwood snag
Habitat: Collecting adult fish from driftwood snag

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Hypostomus plecostomoides** (Eigenmann, 1922)
Common Names	LDA038, Brown Pleco LDA042, Brun Sugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Quebrada Gramalote, Villavicencio, Colombia
Synonym(s)	Cochliodon plecostomoides
Pronunciation	hi POSS tow muss
Etymology	Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth. This specific epithet literally means sucker(pleco=sucker) mouth(stomus=mouth) like(-oides=like).
Species Information
Size	256mm or 10.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Previously placed in Cochliodon and now included in the larger genus, Hypostomus as a member of the Hypostomus Cochliodon group. All these species have higher backs than other conspecifics and spoon shaped teeth (like Panaque). See link below. The three northern South American members of the Hypostomus cochliodon group, H. plecostomoides, H. taphorni, and H. hondae are very difficult to differentiate. The surest identification method is to know where the fish was imported from. H. plecostomoides is found throughout the Orinoco drainage, H. taphorni the Essequibo drainage, and H. hondae in northern Colombia and the Maracaibo drainage.
Sexing	Gravid females are wider when viewed from above.
General Remarks	Recorded in the Lake Valencia and Rio Tuy drainages in Venezuela. However, no specimens have been found in these drainages in some years and the heavy pollution present in these drainages may have extirpated this species from these drainages.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Meta River basin. Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Apure, Guarico (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.5 - 8.0
Temperature	21.0-27.0°C or 69.8-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	In general, the water should be clear, soft to medium in hardness with a near neutral pH. A strong powerhead should provide a fair current. The oxygen level should also be kept high.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Eats all normal aquarium foods. Fresh vegetables and driftwood are a must for this the proper care of this fish. User data.
Furniture	Typically found amongst driftwood snags in the main river channel.
Compatibility	A peaceful loricariid. The pictured specimen was captured in the Rio Tinaco, Cojedes State, Venezuela. It was captured on a large piece of driftwood along with Panaque maccus, P. nigrolineatus, L092, Hypoptopoma, Hypostomus emarginatus, and Lamontichthys llanero.
Breeding	Spawns in holes in the soil of the river bank in the wet season. In the dry season, Iguanas use these same holes for their nests. The holes measure about 4-6 inches wide and up to 18 inches deep.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum v. 9 (no. 1), pp225, Pl. 11 (figs. 1-3).
Registered Keepers	There are 5 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 4 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for H. plecostomoides
	Look up H. plecostomoides on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up H. plecostomoides on Fishbase
	Look up H. plecostomoides on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up H. plecostomoides on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.17.643
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2002 Apr 06 00:00)