Hypostomus plecostomoides

Found throughout the Rio Orinoco drainage in Colombia and Venezuela.

It's usually found living in and around pieces of driftwood in flowing parts of rivers and streams.

120 ∗ 45 ∗ 45 cm48 ∗ 18 ∗ 18 in - ~243 litres~64 US gal.

A spacious tank is required, preferably with a sandy substrate. Provide hiding places in the form of some big chunks of driftwood (which it also feeds on, see below), and preferably dim lighting. Aquatic plants are not a feature of its natural waters and would most likely be eaten anyway. Some surface vegetation, however, is not a bad idea. It also needs well-oxygenated water, ideally with a good amount of movement and flow.

Temperature: 21 – 27 °C70 – 81 °F

pH: 6.5-8.0

Hardness: 5-25°H

H. plecostomoides feeds mainly by rasping wood and will not do well without access to it. Studies of the Cochliodon group and of Panaque have found their guts full of wood particles, but the wood passes through in under four hours and little of it is digested. The fish live mainly on the decaying wood and the microbes that break it down. It also enjoys munching on greenery such as cucumber, courgette, blanched spinach etc. and will also accept sinking dried foods.[1][2]

An amicable species that can be kept with a variety of tankmates provided its oxygen requirements are met. Larger characins, cyprinids, peaceful cichlids and other catfish would be suitable. It's surprisingly non-territorial and can be kept both in a species group or with other peaceful Loricariids. Bear in mind that smaller species may be intimidated by its size.

Not easily sexed, although mature females appear slightly broader when viewed from above.

Not known to have been bred in the hobby. It spawns in deep holes in river banks during the wet season in nature.

This species is part of the Hypostomus cochliodon complex, all of which were previously included in the genus Cochliodon, which is now considered a synonym of Hypostomus. Members of this group can be distinguished from congeners by several differences in morphology, most notably the hump-backed profile of mature fish and spoon-shaped dentition. These features, along with the fishes tendency to eat wood, are shared with the Panaque genus of the Ancistrinae subfamily, but the two genera are known to have evolved convergently (independently) of one another. It's thought that the wood-eating behaviour of the fish has developed as they inhabit areas where fallen wood litters much of the substrate. Not much light penetrates the water to initiate algal growth, giving fish with the ability to use wood as a food source a competitive advantage. It's certainly an impressive specialisation, as these loricariids are the only fishes known to feed mainly on wood.

H. plecostomoides is one of a few species in the Cochliodon group found in northern South America. Of the others, it's very difficult to distinguish it from H. hondae, H. pagei and H. taphorni in particular. Collection locality is often the best indicator of species, although there are also small differences in patterning and morphology.

When buying Loricariids such as this always check the fish has a rounded belly and that its eyes aren't sunken, as these are classic signs of emaciation in newly imported specimens. Care should also be taken when netting the fish, as the pectoral odontotes of males can easily become caught in the mesh of aquarium nets.