1 kinds · tap one for a closer look
Territorial with other plecos, but generally peaceful with larger fish.
225 species in our list are a good match.
Territorial with other plecos, but generally peaceful with larger fish.
Algae wafers, blanched vegetables (courgette, cucumber), and driftwood to rasp; add some frozen or sinking protein.
Tap a food to see what it is.
Seen from above, mature males have a noticeably longer and wider head, a bigger dorsal fin and more odontodes than females.
Common problems. Tap one to see the signs. This is a guide, not a diagnosis.
Cave spawner ·
Has been bred in the hobby but no details are published; in nature it spawns in deep holes in river banks in the wet season.
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.
Named 'vampire' for the two large fang-like teeth in the upper jaw shared by all Leporacanthicus, and 'tusken' for the bony growth on its head. A rapids-dwelling fish from Brazil, it eats meaty foods and, unusually for a pleco, relishes snails.
Isaäc Isbrücker and Han Nijssen described this pleco in 1989. Its long, fang-like teeth gave the whole genus the name 'vampire plecos'. It is known as the galaxy pleco because of the white spots on its dark body.
First described by Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker & Han Nijssen in 1989. Named for 'galaxias' refers to its star-like white spots.
15 facts checked with sources
Name valid, but legacy L-number is WRONG: L. galaxias is L029, not L340 (L340 is a Hypancistrus, the 'mega clown pleco'). L007, L240, L241 and L294 are similar undescribed L. cf. galaxias; fish sold as 'vampire pleco' may be any of these. Fix the display name and aka.
Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes: species of Leporacanthicus · Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029) · Wikipedia: L-number list (compiled from PlanetCatfish Cat-eLog)Legacy has no family.
FishBase: Leporacanthicus galaxias summarySF 25 cm SL vs FishBase 21.1 cm SL; larger used per size rule. Legacy 20 cm slightly small.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029) · FishBase: Leporacanthicus galaxias summaryLegacy 26-30 °C is too warm.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029) · FishBase: Leporacanthicus galaxias summaryLegacy 7.5 top is above both sources.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029) · FishBase: Leporacanthicus galaxias summaryLegacy has none.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)120 x 45 x 45 cm = 243 L; legacy 250 L matches after rounding.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Legacy 'semi-aggressive'. SF rates it peaceful toward fish in other zones but territorial with bottom-dwellers. Will eat snails.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Legacy care 3 (hard). SF rates it easy but stresses a large tank, strong current and high oxygen; 'moderate' would be a fair site choice.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Legacy 'about' says Brazil only.
FishBase: Leporacanthicus galaxias summary · Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Agrees with legacy 'broader head with odontodes'.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Legacy 'Cave spawner; rarely bred' agrees.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)Legacy 'predatory pleco' overstated: it eats invertebrates and meaty foods, not fish. Spot pattern not described in words by SF; SF only notes L007 has larger spots than true galaxias.
Seriously Fish: Leporacanthicus galaxias (galaxy plec, L029)