Megalancistrus sp.

L234 · Dragon Hi Fin Pleco

Authority not recorded

Last revised 2026Edit this page

On this page9 sections

Etymology
Distribution
Aquarium size
Water conditions
Diet
Behaviour and compatibility
Notes
References
Images · 1

Subadult specimen from the German aquarium trade.Enrico Richter

Quick factsEdit

Max size

600mm SL24in SL

Aquarium size

not recorded

Temp

20–30°C68–86°F

6.0–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

Difficulty5 of 8 measures

Difficult

Rated difficult because it needs a tank at least 2 m long.

How the rating is worked out

Space: very large tank
Water: flexible
Temp: flexible
Diet: unknown
Temperament: unknown
Social: fine alone
Compatibility: choose tankmates carefully

Other demands

Each of these can raise the rating on its own, whatever the measures above say.

Hardiness: unknown

Needs a tank at least 2 m long

L234, the dragon hi fin pleco, is a large Megalancistrus catfish known only from the rio São Francisco system in eastern Brazil. The L-number was previously applied to Megalancistrus parananus, but that species is native to the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay drainages, so L234 appears to be an unidentified species. It grows to 500 to 600 mm and can behave very aggressively in confined surroundings.

Etymology

Edit

Megalancistrus: from the Greek μέγας (mégas), meaning 'big, large, great', and the generic name Ancistrus.

Distribution

Edit

Known only from the rio São Francisco system in eastern Brazil.

Aquarium size

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Standard length

600mm SL24in SL

Aquarium base

not recorded

Suitable only for public installations or the very largest private aquaria.

Water conditions

Edit

Temperature

20–30°C68–86°F

6.0–7.5

Hardness

2–12dGH

Diet

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Wild specimens are likely to feed primarily on aquatic invertebrates alongside smaller quantities of wood as in the congener M. parananus, although it's unclear whether the latter is an essential part of the diet or ingested unintentionally while the fish are foraging.

In the aquarium it does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc.

Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients.

These recommendations come from this profile’s own figures. They contain affiliate links, so we may earn a commission.

Behaviour and compatibility

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Can behave very aggressively in confined surroundings and should only be maintained alongside similarly-sized, robust fishes in suitably-sized aquaria (see 'Aquarium Size').

Notes

Edit

L234 was previously applied to M. parananus, which has also has the L-number L113 assigned to it.

However M. parananus is native to the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay drainages, whereas L234 is collected in the rio São Francisco so appears to represent an unidentified species.

M. barrae and M. sp. 'LDA097' are also exported from the São Francisco system.