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Encyclopedia / Catfish & Plecos / Snowball pleco
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Variations

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Snowball pleco

Hypancistrus inspector · Hypancistrus sp. L102, L102, L 102, L-102, Snowball, Inspector pleco, Hypancistrus inspector

Peaceful but best kept alone or with other large peaceful fish.

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16 cmBody length, without tail ✓
26–30 °CTemperature ✓
6–7.5pH ✓
243 LSmallest tank ✓
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Tank mates
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Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (26–30 °C vs 21–25 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (26–30 °C vs 16–24 °C). No setting suits both.
Not recommended
  • They need different temperatures (26–30 °C vs 16–25 °C). No setting suits both.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: exactly 26 °C.
With conditions
  • Only a narrow temperature range suits both: 26–27 °C.
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible
Compatible

203 species in our list are a good match.

Facts checked against sources on 16 Oct 2026. ✓ means a source backs it; ? means no reliable source yet. See sources

Care and water

Hardness ✓1–15 dGH
Group size ✓Can live alone
Temperament ✓Peaceful
Swims at ?Bottom
Care level ✓Moderate
Diet Carnivore
Lifespan ?Unknown
Size in shops 5–9 cm
Growth Slow

Behavior

Peaceful but best kept alone or with other large peaceful fish.

  • cave
  • current

Food

Mostly meaty food: sinking pellets, frozen bloodworm, mysis and prawn. It does not graze algae, so don't rely on vegetables.

Tap a food to see what it is.

Male or female

Adult males have more odontodes on the leading pectoral-fin rays and cheeks and often a reddish tone; seen from above, males are slimmer and less stocky than females.

Health

Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.

Breeding

Cave spawner · Hard

Cave spawner; the male guards the brood. Has been bred in aquaria.

Pairing

Grow out 6-8 juveniles and let a pair form; keep the group in a well-oxygenated, stable tank.

Setup

100-200 L tank with strong flow, many caves sized to the fish (PVC or ceramic tubes), and very clean, warm water.

What starts it

Cool water changes, increased flow and a seasonal drop in temperature, plus rich protein feeding.

Eggs

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.

Raising the fry

Fry stay in the cave until the yolk is gone, then feed on sinking algae wafers, blanched veg and crushed flake. Keep nitrate low.

Common mistakes
  • Too few caves
  • Warm, stagnant water
  • Moving the male while he guards eggs
Full breeding guide, day-by-day plan and simulator →

Where it lives in the wild

RegionSouth America – southern Venezuela
Rivers and lakesRío Casiquiare and upper Rio Negro
HabitatRocky river stretches in soft water
Native rangeAbout 250 km across
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The story of the snowball pleco

The snowball pleco (L102), Hypancistrus inspector, is brown to black with large white to yellow spots; the name refers to its large eyes. It grows to about 12-16 cm SL, lives in rocky rapids of the upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, and prefers meaty foods.

The snowball pleco became popular under the code L102 before it was scientifically described as Hypancistrus inspector in 2002. Its dark body is covered with bright white spots. It is now widely bred in aquariums.

  • The 'L-number' code system was started in 1988 by the German aquarium magazine DATZ to label undescribed plecos.
  • It is now known to science as Hypancistrus inspector.
  • Its white spots stay bright even in adults.

Sources

14 facts checked with sources