Peppermint pleco
Parancistrus nudiventris
- Adult size
- 12 cm5 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 36 cm14 in
- Lifespan
- 10–15 yrs
- Temperature
- 22–29 °C72–84 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- omnivore
A warm, fast-water Xingu pleco needing strong current, high oxygen and cave rockwork; males defend caves from other plecos.A warm, fast-water Xingu pleco needing strong current, high oxygen and cave rockwork; males defend caves from other plecos.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Peppermint plecoAlligator gar may eat Peppermint pleco
- Antenna ray
Antenna ray may eat Peppermint plecoAntenna ray may eat Peppermint pleco
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Peppermint plecoArapaima may eat Peppermint pleco
- Asian arowana
Asian arowana may eat Peppermint plecoAsian arowana may eat Peppermint pleco
- Australian pearl arowana
Australian pearl arowana may eat Peppermint plecoAustralian pearl arowana may eat Peppermint pleco
- Bullseye snakehead
Bullseye snakehead may eat Peppermint plecoBullseye snakehead may eat Peppermint pleco
- Butterfly peacock bass
Butterfly peacock bass may eat Peppermint plecoButterfly peacock bass may eat Peppermint pleco
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Clown knifefish
Clown knifefish may eat Peppermint plecoClown knifefish may eat Peppermint pleco
- Common river stingray
Common river stingray may eat Peppermint plecoCommon river stingray may eat Peppermint pleco
- Congo bichir
Congo bichir may eat Peppermint plecoCongo bichir may eat Peppermint pleco
- Cuban gar
Cuban gar may eat Peppermint plecoCuban gar may eat Peppermint pleco
Sources
| temperature | 22–29 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Rio Xingu, Brazil | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A warm, fast-water Xingu pleco needing strong current, high oxygen and cave rock | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | advanced | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #2A2A2A, #E8E8E0 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | semi-aggressive | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| fin nipper | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| long finned | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| territorial | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| schooling min | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| diet | omnivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| lifespan years | 10–15 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.02,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | true | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | pleco | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |