L333 Pleco - The Tank and Proper Care & Forum

Introduction

The L333 Pleco, also known as the King Tiger Pleco, is a member of the Loricariidae family. It's becoming a popular choice among aquarium enthusiasts. While it resembles other members of the Loricariidae family, its unique markings make it stand out when observed closely.

Origin

The L333 Pleco originates from the Rio Xingu, where it was once quite common. However, to protect the remaining population, the Brazilian government has banned the export of this species. Fortunately, L333 Plecos breed well in captivity, so most specimens available for purchase today are tank-bred.

Their natural habitat includes fast-flowing, well-oxygenated waters with tannins and scattered bogwood.

This species comes in various color variants, which can make identification challenging. Typically, they have a yellow background with irregular dark brown bands, which gives them their common name. They are a great addition to a community tank, reaching an adult size of about 4-6 inches (~10 - 15 cm). While they are generally peaceful, like other catfish, they may become more territorial as they grow older.

They are often confused with the L066, but a closer look reveals distinct differences. The markings on the L333 are more defined and sharper compared to those on the L066.

Setting up the L333 tank

It is best to re-create their natural conditions when setting up a tank for the L333; this will bring the best colouration out of the fish and will help them to settle quicker as well. Sand or smooth gravel can be used for the substrate and add bogwood with some smooth rocks to provide hiding places. These fish do not like bright lighting so keep it subdued and add some floating plants such as the Amazon Frogbit to help with this.

They do demand a high water quality and prefer a decent water current flowing through the tank; this can easily be achieved by placing the outlets from the filter to flow across the length of the tank or failing this add a small power head. As mentioned above the water must be well oxygenated and regular water changes must be performed to keep the parameters perfect.

The temperature of the tank should be between 25 - 31°C (77 - 87.80°F) as they do prefer the higher temperatures and the pH needs to range from 6.0-7.0. The water should be quite soft as alkaline water conditions can be detrimental to their general health.

The L333 Pleco can live with others of its kind, so you can keep more than one in the same tank. However, it’s best if the L333 is the only fish that stays on the bottom of the tank. Other fish should use the upper levels of the water column.

Good tank mates include most Characins, peaceful Cichlids, Tetras, or Rasboras. Avoid mixing them with herbivorous fish because the L333 is a carnivore. Different diets can cause problems.

If you want to try breeding the L333, add some caves to the tank. You can use terracotta plant pots or pieces of piping to create these hiding spots.

Feeding the L333

There has been some confusion among keepers about the diet of the L333. Some believed it needed the same food as omnivorous Loricariidae species. However, the L333 requires a high-protein diet. While young L333 may eat some vegetables, their diet should shift to meaty foods as they grow. They need bloodworms, chopped mussels, chopped cockles, or prawns. They don’t eat algae and won’t touch algae wafers. Commercial dried foods are accepted but not as beneficial.

Breeding the L333

It's hard to tell the sex of L333 Plecos when they are young. However, as they grow, the differences become clear. Males develop large odontodes on their pectoral fins and heads, while females have smaller and less noticeable odontodes. Females also have a rounder body shape. When comparing head shapes, males have broader and shorter heads. It can take up to 2 years for L333 Plecos to reach full maturity, so be patient if you are trying to breed them.

To breed L333 Plecos, it's best to move them from the community tank to a separate breeding tank. This tank should have plenty of caves made from pipes or plant pots. The cave entrances should be just slightly larger than the fish. If the entrances are too big, the Plecos might ignore them. Keep the water well oxygenated and ensure the pH stays below 6.5.

The male will choose a favorite spawning site and defend it aggressively. In the breeding tank, there are no other fish to distract him from breeding. He will try to attract the female to the site. Once she agrees, it might take several days for the eggs to be laid and fertilized.

After this, the female has no further role in the breeding process and is often chased away by the male.

The male takes on all the parenting duties. He guards the eggs and uses his fins to fan them, ensuring that water flows over them. It takes a few days for the eggs to hatch. The fry are born with yolk sacs, which they eat initially. Once the yolk sacs are consumed, it’s up to you to feed them. They will eat a lot, so provide them with algae wafers, newly hatched brine shrimp, micro-worms, or crushed flakes. Make sure they are always fed, or they may start to die off.