Species Profile

Zebra Pleco

Hypancistrus zebra

Plecospeaceful

Adult size

3.5″

Minimum tank

30 gal

Temperature

78–86°F

6–7.4

Schooling

Solitary OK

Water level

bottom

Grows from juvenile

Typically sold at ~1.5″ and reaches 3.5″ over ~2 years. Plan tank size for the adult, not the fish at purchase.

Diet

Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, shrimp

Notes

Striking black-and-white striped pleco from Brazil's Rio Xingu, critically endangered in the wild due to the Belo Monte Dam. Buy captive-bred only. Carnivore, not an algae eater; feed bloodworms and protein-heavy foods.

Build a tank →Photo credits

Photo: Birger A / Wikimedia Commons · Source · CC-BY-SA-3.0