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3 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Territorial with other plecos.
71 species in our list are a good match.
Territorial with other plecos.
Algae wafers, meaty foods.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Adult males develop a broader, slightly flatter head and longer pectoral-fin spines than females.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Rarely bred in captivity ·
Very rarely bred: fish traded as L081 have been bred only once on record.
Rarely bred in captivity. Only a few specialists succeed. Buy a group and wait.
A large tank with caves, 27-30 C and strong flow.
Seasonal changes and big water changes may help.
Small clutches; unknown consistency.
Fry need algae and fine foods. Growth is slow.
Covered in light (usually yellow) spots on the body and head; juveniles have broad yellow bands on the dorsal and tail fins that shrink to small tips in adults. Described in 2011 and listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
The gold nugget pleco was in the hobby for years under L-numbers such as L018 and L081. Rapp Py-Daniel, Zuanon and Ribeiro de Oliveira described it in 2011. Its golden spots and fin edges make it one of the most attractive plecos.
First described by Lúcia Rapp Py-Daniel, Jansen Zuanon & Renildo Ribeiro de Oliveira in 2011.
15 facts checked with sources
Described in 2011. Trade codes: L018 and L085 (Xingu main channel), L177 (mid-to-lower Rio Iriri); L081 was later confirmed as this species (Seriously Fish). Legacy aka lists L018, L081 and L177 but not L085.
FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summaryLegacy has no family; value is new.
FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summaryLegacy 20 cm. Seriously Fish gives 22.4 cm SL (standard length); FishBase gives 29.7 cm TL (total length, includes tail). Recorded the SL figure.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellus · FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summaryLegacy 25-30; Seriously Fish gives 27-32 °C. FishBase gives no range.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusLegacy 6.0-7.5 lies inside the sourced range; Seriously Fish allows up to 8.0.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusLegacy has no hardness; value is new.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusSeriously Fish: 120 x 45 cm base; 120 x 45 x 45 cm = 243,000 cm³ = 243 L. Legacy 300 L is more generous; fine as a recommendation, sourced minimum is ~243 L.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusBest kept singly; a group is possible only in very large tanks with enough territorial space.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusJuveniles are fairly peaceful; adult males become territorial toward their own kind and other bottom fish.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusDemersal = lives on/near the bottom.
FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summaryLegacy 3 (hard). Seriously Fish rates it moderate; it needs a large tank, warm well-oxygenated water and strong flow.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusLegacy has no range field; value is new.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellus · FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summaryLegacy says males have odontodes on the body; Seriously Fish uses head shape and pectoral spine length instead.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusLegacy "Rare in captivity" agrees. No details of the method are given.
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellusLegacy "Black with gold spots and gold-edged fins" is roughly right, but the gold fin edges are mainly a juvenile feature that shrinks with age. Seriously Fish does not describe the base colour as black (it is dark).
Seriously Fish: Baryancistrus xanthellus · FishBase: Baryancistrus xanthellus summary