Vampire Pleco

About

A rarely described member of the so-called vampire plecos, Leporacanthicus joselimai is a Loricariid catfish from the fast-moving waters of Brazil's Tapajós River basin. The genus nickname comes from the two prominent fang-like teeth on the upper jaw, which are thought to help the fish grip snails and invertebrate prey rather than for any predatory drama. All Leporacanthicus also sport a small bony knob on top of the head whose function nobody has fully worked out yet. Young fish are genuinely head-turning, with crisp white fin tips that contrast sharply against a darker body. Frustratingly for keepers, those white tips fade as the fish matures and may disappear entirely in adults. Though the fish remains an interesting and characterful pleco regardless. This species is territorial, especially among males, so anyone planning to keep more than one needs to provide generous swimming and hiding space with clearly defined territories. Tankmates should be chosen carefully; robust characins and peaceful South American cichlids tend to work well, and smaller Loricariids like Corydoras can usually coexist without issue. When selecting a specimen at a shop, look for a rounded belly and clear, non-sunken eyes. Hollow-bellied, newly imported plecos can be very hard to bring back. Captive breeding has been achieved, apparently following cave-spawning behavior similar to Ancistrus.