L234
Megalancistrus sp. "L234"
Also known as: Megalancistrus sp l234
A massive, aggressive pleco from eastern Brazil that demands respect and space.
About
Megalancistrus sp. L234 is one of those fish that commands attention the moment you see it. A genuinely large pleco that can push close to two feet in length as an adult. It comes exclusively from the rio São Francisco drainage in eastern Brazil, a river system that also produces a handful of other notable loricariids. The taxonomy here is a bit tangled: the L234 designation was once applied to Megalancistrus paranus, a species from the Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay systems, but the São Francisco fish appear to represent something distinct and as yet formally unnamed. Despite being listed as beginner-friendly in terms of basic care requirements, the temperament is anything but gentle. This species can be seriously confrontational in close quarters, and that needs to factor into your stocking decisions. Tankmates should be large and capable of holding their own, and the aquarium itself needs to be substantial to keep aggression manageable. Think of it less as a community fish and more as a centrepiece species that happens to share water with a few carefully chosen companions. If you have the room and the right setup, it's a fascinating, long-lived fish with real presence.
Similar species
Other fish you might consider
Good tank mates
Species that tend to coexist peacefully with L234
From the same region
Share the same natural habitat. Great for a biotope-themed tank
Frequently asked questions
- How big does the L234 get?
- The L234 reaches about 19.5–23.5" as an adult.
- What water parameters does the L234 need?
- The L234 does best with a temperature of 68–86°F, a pH of 6–7.5, hardness around 2–12 dGH.
- Is the L234 aggressive?
- The L234 is aggressive and is best kept alone or with robust tankmates that can hold their own.
- What does the L234 eat?
- The L234 is a herbivore. It needs a plant-based diet such as algae, blanched vegetables, or spirulina-based foods.