Galaxy Pleco

 Quick Care Facts

• Care Level: Easy   • Temperament: Peaceful   • Maximum Size: 8"
• Minimum Tank Size: 55 gallons   • Water Conditions: 72-79° F, KH 8-12, pH 6.0-7.5
• Diet: Omnivore   • Origin: South America   • Family: Loricariidae
• Species: Plecos   • Aquarium Type: Community

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Click/tap to view the Blog: UNDERSTANDING PLECO L-NUMBERS AND COMPLETE L-NUMBER: REFERENCE LIST (PART 1. L001 - L100).

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Galaxy Pleco's originate from the Amazon basin, where they can be found living along the bottom of the many streams, tributaries and flood plains. They spend the majority of their time searching the growth along the river bottom for decaying plant matter, algae and small meaty items. They typically avoid the brightness of the midday sun by hiding under plants or driftwood, then come out at night to forage.

The Galaxy Pleco is a very peaceful species that will get along well with tropical community fish and cichlids. They will squabble with other similar sized Pleco's and bottom feeders if not given enough room to establish a suitable territory. These territorial battles tend not to be too violent; however, they should be house in an aquarium larger than 55 gallons if they are to be kept with other Pleco's or similar species.

The streams and tributaries of the Amazon from which the Galaxy Pleco originates have relatively strong water currents and large amounts of dissolved oxygen within the water. Galaxy Pleco's will appreciate an aquarium that has plenty of water current and high levels of dissolved oxygen within the water. They should also be provided with plants, driftwood and rocky caves in order to give them plenty of places to find cover and look for algae growth.

It is important to provide them with shaded areas within the aquarium to allow them to retreat from the bright aquarium lights, thus some rock caves or driftwood are important aqua-scaping elements for this species. Galaxy Pleco's require good water conditions with stable temperature and pH. They should be kept in aquariums of 55 gallons or larger in order to provide them enough room and to allow enough water volume to maintain quality stable water conditions. The Galaxy Pleco is a peaceful species that can be housed with a wide variety of tropical community fish species and semi-aggressive cichlid species.

Galaxy Pleco's are omnivores that will eat a large variety of foods ranging from algae and decaying plant matter to sinking meaty foods or foodstuffs that find their way to the aquarium substrate. They are not picky about what they will eat, but should be offered a varied diet containing plenty of algae and plant material, along with some meaty based foods.

In a mature aquarium, the bulk of the Galaxy Pleco's diet can come from scavenging the aquarium substrate for excess food and from eating algae. If enough food is not available to scavenge, their diet should be supplemented with sinking pellet foods or algae wafers.