{"id":8884,"date":"2023-03-18T09:22:41","date_gmt":"2023-03-18T09:22:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/?p=8884"},"modified":"2023-11-05T15:07:40","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T15:07:40","slug":"biggest-pleco-species","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/biggest-pleco-species\/","title":{"rendered":"The 7 Biggest &#8216;Giant&#8217; Pleco Species You Didn&#8217;t Know About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8884\" class=\"elementor elementor-8884\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-14e8fec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"14e8fec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87a6e9d\" data-id=\"87a6e9d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-005d4d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"005d4d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the aquarium hobby are rather small. However, there are some enormous pleco types, too. And they&#8217;re more common than you might think&#8230;<\/p><p>This list includes 7 of the biggest species of plecos (Loricariidae) that you might encounter.\u00a0<\/p><p>Starting off with&#8230;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-67b4907 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"67b4907\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Common pleco(s)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b84021 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2b84021\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"799\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/300326793_013cc607b2_c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-910\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/300326793_013cc607b2_c.jpg 799w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/300326793_013cc607b2_c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/300326793_013cc607b2_c-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Common pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) Feeding on cucumber. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/sxfGa\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jean-Francois Brousseau<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3167422 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3167422\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The average size of these fish is <b>around 15 inches, but they can grow up to 24 inches<\/b> in ideal conditions.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80bcdfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80bcdfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As the name suggests, the &#8216;common pleco&#8217; is one of the most widely spread pleco species in the hobby.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, it isn&#8217;t as simple as just saying &#8216;common pleco&#8217;<\/p><p>The name &#8216;common pleco&#8217; is thrown around a lot and used for a group of similarly looking pleco species.<\/p><p>\u00a0Online, there are also a lot of different sources that pair the name &#8216;common pleco&#8217; to different scientific names, which makes it even harder to identify what exact species you have.<\/p><p>Here&#8217;s a list with some Loricariidae species that are often labeled as &#8216;common pleco&#8217;.<\/p><ul><li><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hypostomus_plecostomus\">Hypostomus plecostomus\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.planetcatfish.com\/common\/species.php?species_id=88\">Pterygoplichthys pardalis\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d04d8bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d04d8bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The genre of &#8216;common plecos&#8217; are also often sold under the wrong name, such as bristlenose plecos or clown plecos (two species that stay significantly smaller).\u00a0<\/p><p>Luckily, these small species are very easy to distinguish from the bigger group of &#8216;common plecos&#8217;.<\/p><p><span style=\"font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;\">When you see them in stores, they&#8217;re probably rather small, something like 3-4 inches. These fish are often sold to people who can&#8217;t take care of them (meaning they have a tank that&#8217;s too small).\u00a0 In a few years, they can grow huge!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ae3478a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ae3478a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Sailfin pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-84709e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"84709e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/131848502_02f8914f4a_o.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8943\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/131848502_02f8914f4a_o.jpg 900w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/131848502_02f8914f4a_o-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/131848502_02f8914f4a_o-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a77699d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a77699d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The sailfin pleco gets on average around <b>15 inches<\/b> in aquariums, but in the wild they tend to grow even bigger (&gt;20 inches). <\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9a1935 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b9a1935\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The sailfin pleco is a rather easy-to-recognize pleco species that gets its name from its large dorsal fin. Depending on factors such as stress and mood, they can lower or raise it<\/p><p>Another way to easily identify the sailfin pleco is because it has a leopard-like pattern throughout its whole body, as you can clearly see in the photo below.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5a19b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e5a19b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/aquarium-g54e635ff5_1280-1024x682.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10082\" alt=\"Sailfin pleco\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/aquarium-g54e635ff5_1280-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/aquarium-g54e635ff5_1280-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/aquarium-g54e635ff5_1280-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/aquarium-g54e635ff5_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f1c3cc elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5f1c3cc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The sailfin pleco needs a plant-based diet and is an <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eating-algae\/\">algae-eating pleco<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>In the wild, they use their mouth to scrape algae and biofilm off rocks. Brown algae seem to be the favorite. In aquariums, they eat a variety of foods, including meat-based pellets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22ee7c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22ee7c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Royal pleco (Panaque nigrolineatus)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f88dff elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6f88dff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22418240058_db1043a751_b-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-8947\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22418240058_db1043a751_b.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22418240058_db1043a751_b-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22418240058_db1043a751_b-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/22418240058_db1043a751_b-768x768.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Photo by Sor Botto on Flickr<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f91ae3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f91ae3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In aquariums, the royal pleco gets on average <b>12-18 inches<\/b> in length. In the wild however, specimens of up to <b>24 inches<\/b> have been observed.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32e22f2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"32e22f2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>When we&#8217;re talking about big pleco tyes, Panaque species certainly are among the more popular ones.\u00a0<\/p><p>Their striking striped pattern with orange-red eyes gives them an almost alien-like appearance, which is certainly worth looking at.<\/p><p>Apart from the classic striped pattern, some Panaque species also develop a spotted pattern.<\/p><p>The royal pleco should not be confused with the clown pleco, which goes under the scientific name &#8216;Panaqolus maccus&#8217;. The clown pleco stays significantly smaller (&lt;5 inches) but is also <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/driftwood-for-plecos\/\">a wood-eating pleco<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1284076 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1284076\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3781072569_3a0cb12d5f_c.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-536\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3781072569_3a0cb12d5f_c.jpg 800w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3781072569_3a0cb12d5f_c-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/3781072569_3a0cb12d5f_c-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">The mouth of this Royal pleco is made for grasping on wood. Photo by <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/6L7Z9n\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Jan<\/a><\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81befc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81befc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Panaque species are found in habitats where there is lots of wood, and they are equipped with special teeth to feed on wood and scrape off algae.\u00a0<\/p><p>Make sure to have a big variety of different types of driftwood if you want to keep this pleco.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52f3ce5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"52f3ce5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Adonis pleco (Acanthicus adonis)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b2ed32 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"6b2ed32\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/D6SnayiT2DU&quot;,&quot;modestbranding&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;lazy_load&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-video .elementor-widget-container{overflow:hidden;transform:translateZ(0)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio)}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{height:100%;width:100%;display:flex;border:none;background-color:#000}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper iframe,.elementor-widget-video .elementor-wrapper video{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-open-inline .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;background-size:cover;background-position:50%}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{cursor:pointer;text-align:center}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay:hover .elementor-custom-embed-play i{opacity:1}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{display:block;width:100%;aspect-ratio:var(--video-aspect-ratio);-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover;-o-object-position:center center;object-position:center center}@supports not (aspect-ratio:1\/1){.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay{position:relative;overflow:hidden;height:0;padding-bottom:calc(100% \/ var(--video-aspect-ratio))}.elementor-widget-video .elementor-custom-embed-image-overlay img{position:absolute;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0}}.elementor-widget-video .e-hosted-video .elementor-video{-o-object-fit:cover;object-fit:cover}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-video,.e-con>.elementor-widget-video{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0e9090 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"c0e9090\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Various sources cite that the Adonis pleco can reach a max size of <b>40 inches (100cm)<\/b>, meaning its one of the, if not the biggest, pleco species. In captivity, they rarely reach this size, and the Adonis pleco tends to stay 'only' <b>20-30 inches long <\/b>in aquariums.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-519bf4a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"519bf4a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Young Adonis plecos have a beautiful dotted appearance, which makes it possible to confuse them with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fishkeepingworld.com\/snowball-pleco\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">snowball plecos<\/a>. Snowball plecos are way more common and stay a lot smaller, though.\u00a0<\/p><p>There isn&#8217;t a lot of literature about breeding the adonis pleco, and most specimens are caught in the wild, northern Brazil, to be exact. The striking juveniles are then sold to aquarists.<\/p><p>The adonis pleco is highly territorial, and the males do not tolerate competition.\u00a0<\/p><p>Acanthicus adonis can be recognized for its prehistoric looks and slim, spiny body. Another similar species within this genus is Acanthicus hystrix, that gets just as big.<\/p><p>When handling this fish, gloves should be used to prevent getting hurt by the spiny scales.<\/p><p>This fish is an omnivore and should be fed a variety of frozen foods, pellets, mussels, etc.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9038229 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9038229\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Megalancistrus parananus<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f16b09e elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"f16b09e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtu.be\\\/SsK1wGQ4sXM&quot;,&quot;modestbranding&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;lazy_load&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1d070a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1d070a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Also called Mega-Ancistrus, the largest specimen of Megalancistrus parananus has been measured <b>23.1 inches (59cm)<\/b>, according to SeriouslyFish.com<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba9baac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ba9baac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The proof&#8217;s in the name, right?\u00a0<\/p><p>The scientific name of this fish literally means &#8216;big, giant Ancistrus&#8217;, and it&#8217;s easy to see why.<\/p><p>Megalancistrus parananus has the L-number L113, although it&#8217;s often debated whether it&#8217;s the same as L234 as they are very similar.<\/p><p>According to Planet Catfish, both are different in terms of geographic origin and show physical differences:<\/p><ul><li>L113 shows a lower dorsal fin than L234<\/li><li>L113 has darker base color<\/li><\/ul><p>Source: <em>Dignall, J. G. (2023, 13th March).\u00a0PlanetCatfish.com, The aquarium catfish website.<\/em><br \/><em>Retrieved from https:\/\/www.planetcatfish.com\/common\/species.php?task=&amp;species_id=2514<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f7d926 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3f7d926\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Cactus Plecos (Pseudacanthicus sp.)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2471c18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2471c18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"532\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-1-1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10130\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-1-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/8631047359_1e5fee386e_c-1-1-768x511.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b84679c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b84679c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">There are many cactus pleco species, with most species falling into the <b>15-30 inches<\/b> length range.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d50a9f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4d50a9f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The cactus pleco gets its name from the many rows of spines or keels along side its body.\u00a0<\/p><p>The most common cactus pleco is the leopard cactus pleco &#8216;Pseudacanthicus leopardus L114&#8217;, which has a striking leopard-like pattern with bright orange fins.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, the leopard cactus pleco is amongst the smaller cactus plecos. Two big species are the scarlet cactus pleco (Pseudacanthicus pirarara) and the Giant cactus pleco (Pseudacanthicus major), which get respectively up to 20 and 25 inches.<\/p><p>Cactus plecos are carnivorous and should be fed a diet that consists of mussels, shrimp, and other meat-based pellets\/frozen foods.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c9c29a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1c9c29a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7. Titanic pleco (Panaque schaeferi)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a75713 elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"8a75713\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/watch?v=T5uijM0AVXg&quot;,&quot;modestbranding&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;yt_privacy&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d9ea63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5d9ea63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The titanic pleco gets even bigger than the classic Royal pleco, reaching an average maximum length of <b>23 inches<\/b> according to Planet Catfish and Wikipedia. In the wild, they might reach up to 40 inches.<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8b60bfb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8b60bfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Panque schaeferi is similar to Panaque nigrolineatus and they are both wood-eaters.\u00a0<\/p><p>However, the titanic pleco can be recognized as it doesn&#8217;t have the typical stripes and has a darker base color.<\/p><p>This species can get quite territorial and thus needs a big surface area to thrive.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62ecfc7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"62ecfc7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why plecos in captivity stay so much smaller<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ea745f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0ea745f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Looking at the list of big pleco types we covered, there&#8217;s one pattern that keeps coming back: plecos raised in captivity stay much smaller than those in the wild. But why is that?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f747a7a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f747a7a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tank size<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7b1ad2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d7b1ad2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It&#8217;s no secret that all the plecos on this list need a huge tank. Still, it&#8217;s impossible to create a tank that&#8217;s as big as the Amazon river&#8230;<\/p><p>The closest you can get to having this much space is digging a pond, in which these animals are rarely kept.<\/p><p>Although only partially true that plecos grow to the size of their tank, big plecos just grow much bigger in an environment where the space is practically unlimited.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-898c893 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"898c893\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Water quality<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5782e14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5782e14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Every single second, new fresh water flows by a pleco in the wild. While in a tank, you have a strong filter if it filters the volume 10x every hour.<\/p><p>That&#8217;s usually enough, and the water will get clean, but it still isn&#8217;t the same as highly oxygenated water coming directly out of the mountains.<\/p><p>On top of this, in big tanks and ponds, filters are often less strong relative to the tank size.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57d3495 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"57d3495\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Stress <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e317217 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e317217\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>A lot of tank environments cause stress to fish. Especially to these big fish, who are pretty smart.<\/p><p>The bottoms of these tanks are often kept bare to make it easier to clean, and many other fish which can cause conflicts are with them in the same tank.<\/p><p>Lastly, big plecos seem to be handled more than smaller plecos because people want to measure them or just hold them because it seems cool.<\/p><p>This all causes stress and thus less growth.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bfbf96 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6bfbf96\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Genetics <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-721d2e1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"721d2e1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>This is more of a personal hypothesis of me, but I think many fish species have adapted themselves to a certain extent over a couple of generations to stay smaller.<\/p><p>Not all of these big plecos are imported, and wild-caught and captive-bred animals may have just adapted extremely quickly to stay smaller.<\/p><p>\u00a0Again, there&#8217;s no real research on this but certainly something interesting to think about.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most of the pleco species sold and kept in the aquarium hobby are rather small. However, there are some enormous pleco types, too. And they&#8217;re more common than you might think&#8230; This list includes 7 of the biggest species of plecos (Loricariidae) that you might encounter. Starting off with&#8230; 1. Common pleco(s) Common pleco (Hypostomus &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/biggest-pleco-species\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The 7 Biggest &#8216;Giant&#8217; Pleco Species You Didn&#8217;t Know About<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8923,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"","site-content-layout":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The 7 Biggest &#039;Giant&#039; Pleco Species You Didn&#039;t Know About | Keeping Catfish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The biggest pleco species you probably didn&#039;t know about. 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