Queen Arabesque Plec L260

Native to the warm, oxygen rich flowing waters of the Rio Tapajos, where rocks provide the caves and crevices they call home.

The aquarium should be mature, with a soft sand substrate and various pieces of smooth rockwork and driftwood arranged to create lots of small nooks and crannies. There should be brisk water movement and a high level of oxygenation, perhaps provided by a river-tank manifold or powerheads (in addition to the current generated by the filtration). As plants are not found in any great abundance in the natural habitat, they can be omitted from the aquascape, although a few areas of hardy vegetation (that can cope with current) will make the aquarium look more aesthetically pleasing and will help with water quality. Ample hiding places/visual barriers amongst the decor will enable you to keep a group of these fish together and will obviously further your chances of breeding them. Male Hypancistrus are fairly territorial and care should be taken to provide plenty of caves. Tankmates must be small and peaceful, and able to thrive in warm, fast-flowing water. As these fish do not compete well for food, avoid keeping with fish that are boisterous at feeding times. These plecs are largely carnivorous and will not make any impact on algae. Ensure that regular partial water changes are carried out as these catfish will not tolerate an elevated nitrate level.