Chaetostoma

The striped bulldog pleco, Chaetostoma formosae, is a suckermouth catfish from piedmont streams of the upper Meta and Guaviare systems in Colombia. The commonest member of the genus in the hobby, it is still misidentified as C. thompsoni and sold under several names and L-numbers. An obligate inhabitant of fast-flowing headwater streams, it needs clean, well-oxygenated water with strong flow and does best in a dedicated species set-up.

The spotted bulldog plec, Chaetostoma sp. 'L187a', is a rubbernose plec from fast-flowing mountain streams in Colombia. One of the more commonly seen Chaetostoma, its true identity is uncertain and it is sometimes misidentified in shops. It needs clear, cool, well-oxygenated water with plenty of movement, and it is territorial with its own kind unless each fish has a rock of its own.