Magnum Pleco

About

Known in the trade as the magnum pleco and previously catalogued under the L-number designation L047, this armored catfish from Brazil's Rio Xingu drainage is one of the more visually distinctive members of the genus Baryancistrus. The most reliable way to identify it is by the broad, pale yellowish band running across the outer edges of the dorsal and caudal fins. A marking that persists throughout its life, though it softens somewhat in older fish. Some individuals also show pale spots across the body, but these are never as bold or numerous as those seen on close relatives like B. xanthellus. In the wild, adults tuck themselves beneath large flat rocks resting on fine sediment in areas of the river where current is moderate, while juveniles tend to stay closer to the banks in calmer, shallower zones. Diet in nature centers on diatoms scraped from surfaces, supplemented occasionally by invertebrate larvae. In the aquarium, juveniles are manageable enough, but adults, especially males, become genuinely aggressive toward tankmates they perceive as rivals. Medium to large characids that stay toward the upper and mid water column make the most practical companions. Combining this species with other bottom-dwellers requires a large tank with well-planned decor to break up sightlines and define territories. Breeding has not been documented in captivity.