L333 King Tiger Plecostomus

Hypancistrus sp. (L333)
Locality: Rio Xingu, Brazil
Size: 6" max
pH: 6.4 - 7.2
TDS: 60 - 120 ppm
Temperature: 78 - 87 F
 
Feeding: Prefers meaty foods, I feed french cut green beans or Zucchini twice a week.
Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons for 1 fish or at least a 40 breeder for groups. Larger dimensions for the bottom of the tank means more than how many gallons of water the tank holds.
 
Suggested Tank Mates: My favorite partner for plecos is Neocaridina Shrimp. Shrimp and Plecos are made for each other. If you are not specifically planning a breeding tank then tetras, danios and other schooling fish are great candidates.
 
Feeding: Carnivorous, consider meaty foods like Ken’s Fish Five Stick blend or earthworm sticks, carnivore pellets, Repashy’s Igapo Explorer and frozen foods (brine shrimp or bloodworms). I also feed French-cut green beans, Zucchini or high-quality veggie wafers 2 – 3 times a week. Feed after dark especially if you are also keeping dither fish in the tank. 
 
Tank Setup: Sand substrate, wood and many caves for the males to hide. Plants are welcome but may be eaten on occasion. 
 
Sexual Differences/Breeding: Adult males develop tooth like odontodes around the head and pectoral fins. One tried and true way to tell if your fish is a male is if he spends most of his time in a pleco cave. The females are typically not interested in the caves unless they want to spawn. Viewed from above the females look much thicker than males. In my breeding tanks I keep a row of caves in the center of the tank with a flat piece of slate laying across the top. You will often find the females hanging around under the slate and outside the caves. For the best breeding opportunity keep your tanks temperature between 80 – 84 F with good air flow. I breed my L333’s in 40-gallon breeders where I will keep a group of approximately 8 individuals. I do not use hang on back (HOB) filters but instead use two sponge filters set up high flow.