1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Peaceful; likes caves and wood.
163 species in our list are a good match.
Peaceful; likes caves and wood.
Algae wafers, blanched vegetables (courgette, cucumber), and driftwood to rasp; add some frozen or sinking protein.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Males grow hair-like odontodes on the leading rays of the pectoral and caudal fins; females do not.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Cave spawner · Hard
Cave spawner (Peckoltia); bred in aquaria.
Grow out 6-8 juveniles and let a pair form; keep the group in a well-oxygenated, stable tank.
100-200 L tank with strong flow, many caves sized to the fish (PVC or ceramic tubes), and very clean, warm water.
Cool water changes, increased flow and a seasonal drop in temperature, plus rich protein feeding.
The male guards a small clutch (5-30 large amber eggs) in the cave for around 5-10 days until they hatch; the fry carry a big yolk sac.
Fry stay in the cave until the yolk is gone, then feed on sinking algae wafers, blanched veg and crushed flake. Keep nitrate low.
The leopard frog pleco (L134), first shown in DATZ in 1993 and named Peckoltia compta in 2010 (Latin comptus, "adorned"), has bold dark bars across the body and dark stripes on the snout, each with a pale line inside. Tapajós fish are barred; Rio Jamanxim fish are more spotted. It needs warm, oxygen-rich water.
The leopard frog pleco was known as L134 for years before Brazilian researchers described it as Peckoltia compta in 2010. Its bold yellow-and-black bands make it one of the most attractive small plecos. It is peaceful and stays around 10 cm.
First described by Renildo R. de Oliveira, Jansen Zuanon, Lúcia Rapp Py-Daniel & Marcelo S. Rocha in 2010. Named for 'compta' means adorned.
10 facts checked with sources
Valid name, Peckoltia compta de Oliveira, Zuanon, Rapp Py-Daniel & Rocha, 2010 (Zootaxa 2534: 48-56).
FishBase: Peckoltia compta summary · Practical Fishkeeping (2010): Leopard frog plec has a scientific nameLegacy has no family; value is new.
FishBase: Peckoltia compta summaryScotCat 11 cm (length type not stated); FishBase 6.2 cm SL is the largest type specimen. Larger figure used; legacy 12 cm slightly high.
ScotCat: Peckoltia compta · FishBase: Peckoltia compta summaryLegacy 26-30 matches ScotCat. No Seriously Fish profile.
ScotCat: Peckoltia comptaLegacy 6.0-7.5; ScotCat 6.0-7.2.
ScotCat: Peckoltia comptaLegacy has no range field (story says Rio Tapajós, which agrees). IUCN Endangered (A3c) from planned dams (FishBase; ScotCat quotes the assessment).
ScotCat: Peckoltia compta · Practical Fishkeeping (2010): Leopard frog plec has a scientific nameLegacy "broader head with bristles" is generic template text; the fin odontodes are the sourced sign.
ScotCat: Peckoltia compta"Bred many times" is not quantified by the source; ScotCat shows a breeding cave and youngsters.
ScotCat: Peckoltia comptaLegacy "leopard-like pattern of large dark spots" fits the Jamanxim form only; the type form is barred. "Hardy" unsourced.
ScotCat: Peckoltia compta · Practical Fishkeeping (2010): Leopard frog plec has a scientific name