Rio Negro Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps ‘Rio Negro’)

An incredibly beautiful but huge growing pleco, the L165 Sailfin, Butterfly, or Gibbiceps Pleco has been known by many names in the trade and is now among the most widely bred plecos in the hobby despite its large adult size. As the name implies, this species is easily distinguished by its enormous, sail-like dorsal fin and intricate pattern of dark spots against a tan, light brown or reddish background. An algae grazer and opportunistic omnivore, the Sailfin Pleco is an excellent fish for algae control in a very large community aquarium but with its fast growth and adult size of over 16″ it requires a substantial amount of space to maintain successfully. Most available in the trade have been farm bred and possibly hybridized with other similar species but the wild form from the Rio Negro displays exceptional reds and a highly distinct pattern.