Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Candy Striped Pleco
AwesomeFreshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Candy Striped Pleco – The scientific name for the Sweet striped
pleco is Peckoltia vittata. Earlier, the name Chaetostomus vittatus was
utilized. The L-number for Sweet striped pleco was L015. It's sold under the
name Candy striped Peckoltia, because the Candy striped pleco belongs to the
genus Peckolita. Within the hobby, Peckoltia vittata is frequently confused
using the Clown pleco Panaque maccus.
![]() |
Photo copyright from monsterfishkeepers.com
|
Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Fish Tank: Candy Striped Pleco
Peckoltia: named member of the Natural
History Commission of Rondon, after Gustavo Peckolt. This specific epithet
literally means decorated with a thread(vittata=decorated using a ribbon) and
refers to the groups of colour on its body.
Just like most Loricariids,
colouration depends on disposition.
Diet
This fish is omnivore,
hey will eat most foods offered them. Though they are not amazing algae eaters,
these plecs adore vegetables, such as cucumber and zucchini. They relish meaty
foods as well, and will devour live and frozen foods alike.
These fish are fed at
night or simply prior to the tank's lights go out, to ensure they get their
share of food. Tankmates will likely eat food added to the tank during the day
as they're nocturnal.
Sexing
Males develop small
teeth-like odontodes which adorn the back half of the fishes body and the top
pectoral fin rays. Females remain unadorned and also have a wider girth across
the body most evident when the place just behind the pectoral fins is viewed
from above.
Attention
These catfish are very
hardy. They stand most water conditions well, but enjoy a great current, and
well-oxygenated water. As they like to have their own unique area, supply at
least one cavern per fish /s to hide. They may fight with other Loricariids if
not enough caverns are available.
Typical Tank setup
Rio Amazon biotope with
lots of rocks, wood and live plants. This species normally makes aquarium
plants alone, provided of course that you keep it well fed. Always include wood
in the set up. They are primarily nocturnal, and timid by nature, so hiding
places are compulsory.
Suitable tank mates
Ideal for community
tanks, but can be outcompeted by larger, more bottomdwelling fish that is
outgoing. Ideally kept a species set up. A medium sized pleco that can be
coupled using a really extensive variety of tankmates due to its unfussy
nature. Totally safe with little fishes and shrimp or solid enough to defy the
attention of all but the greatest cichlids.
Mating
They are cave spawners.
The male guards the eggs which are light yellow and about 2-3 millimeters in
size. The eggs generally hatch inside a week and after another week the yolk
sac will usually have been consumed. You can feed the fry just hatched baby
brine shrimp (BBS).
Water chemistry
Perfect is soft,
slightly acidic water, but this species is extremely strong and adaptive, to be
able to live in various conditions (pH 5.5-7.5, dH range: 2.0-20.0). The water
temperature should be between 73-82 degrees F (23-28 degrees C). These fish prefer
warm, quick-flowing water that is certainly very oxygen-rich.
Additional info
In several cases, the
single method to tell these fish apart is by understanding where it was
initially gathered.