Cactus Pleco

About

Native to the river systems of Venezuela, this armored catfish from the genus Pseudacanthicus, known informally as Pseudacanthicus sp., belongs to a group sometimes called cactus plecos. A nod to the dense covering of sharp spines and odontodes that run along their bodies and fin rays. These are not gentle, passive fish. Members of this genus tend to be territorial and aggressive toward their own kind and similarly shaped bottom-dwellers, so tankmates should be chosen with care. That said, they tend to ignore fish that occupy different areas of the water column and present no competition for territory or food. In the wild, these catfish inhabit fast-flowing, oxygen-rich rivers, and they appreciate good water movement and filtration in the aquarium. They are predominantly carnivorous, with a diet that should lean heavily on meaty foods like shrimp, mussels, and quality sinking pellets, supplemented with some vegetable matter. Without a species-level identification confirmed, specific details on adult size and coloration are hard to pin down precisely, as the genus includes members ranging from medium to quite large. Anyone keeping this fish should be prepared for a specimen that demands space, territory, and a meaty menu.