Leporacanthicus sp. 'black vampire'

An uncommon, rarely exported member of the genus Leporicanthicus, the Black Vampire or Dottyback Vampire Pleco is found in remote reaches of the Atabapo and extreme upper Rio Negro in Colombia and Venezuela. Their patterns are extremely variable, with some specimens showing spots only on the face and others exhibiting spots throughout the entire body. Generally the spots closest to the tail are gold or yellow. A relatively aggressive and territorial species (like most species in the genus Leporacanthicus) L473 are primarily carnivores, and prefer a protein rich diet.