BOGO L260 Queen Arabesque Pleco (Hypancistrus sp. (L260))

This is a BOGO listing! If you buy 1 fish, you will receive 2 fish! Remarks: When the L260 queen arabesque pleco (Hypancistrus sp. (L260)) was first introduced to the hobby in the late 1990s, it quickly became a well-known and regularly imported favorite amongst aquarists. Many have been drawn to their elegant, midnight black bodies covered in thin, white striations and spots. Their hardiness, small size, and less territorial nature when compared to others in their genus has only added to their desirability. Despite this multi-decade popularity in the hobby, like with many Brazilian Hypancistrus, science has not yet given them a full, official scientific name. While the L260 queen arabesque pleco has a very unique appearance, it does still bear some resemblance to a few closely related species. It can be told apart from both Hypancistrus sp. (L411) and Hypancistrus sp. (L066) by having a smaller size, far thinner white stripes/striations, and also sometimes having small spots which are absent in L411 and L066. Knowing collection location is also helpful when making sure a fish is truly L260 since it is endemic to the lower Rio Tapajós within the Brazilian state of Pará. Care for the L260 queen arabesque pleco does not differ much from most other Hypancistrus. They come from rocky areas of pristine, heavily oxygenated, warm, soft, and acidic water and will gradually decline in health in the home aquarium if these conditions are not replicated. Using a high-quality filter with a high flow rate along with a heater and frequent water changes will help keep these plecos happy and healthy. While the L260 queen arabesque pleco is an omnivore, like all known Hypancistrus, they mostly eat meaty foods with them gradually leaning more and more carnivorous as they age. So, to keep them well fed, they must be fed a varied diet high in protein. Protein rich gel foods like Repashy, bloodworms, and sinking wafers are good choices to feed to meet their dietary needs. It should be noted L260 queen arabesque plecos are particularly shy eaters so overly boisterous tankmates that will aggressively compete with them for food should be avoided. Most smaller Hypancistrus species do best in at least small groups, however they can become territorial especially during breeding. While the L260 queen arabesque pleco is known to be on the more peaceful side, males still might become aggressive over caves. To reduce territorial fights and help the L260 queen arabesque pleco feel comfortable in the aquarium, plenty of snug, rocky caves should be provided for them to hide in. These caves are also where these fish will spawn if all other conditions are just right. They can be a very exciting breeding project as they are such a unique and beautiful catfish whose wild populations unfortunately are threatened by habitat destruction. An important thing to note, however, is that it is not wise to house the L260 queen arabesque pleco with other similar Hypancistrus as they can hybridize with it being near impossible to tell pure fish from hybrids.