Leopard sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
- Tank length
- 180 cmabout 6 ft (71 in)
- Start with
- 1
- Temperature
- 22–28 °C72–82 °F
- pH
- 5.5–7.8
- Adult size
- 35 cm14 in
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
Grows into a heavy, waste-producing fish of around 45 cm; plan for a very large tank and strong filtration from the start.Grows into a heavy, waste-producing fish of around 18 in; plan for a very large tank and strong filtration from the start.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Leopard sailfin plecoAlligator gar may eat Leopard sailfin pleco
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Leopard sailfin plecoArapaima may eat Leopard sailfin pleco
- Channel catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Orange chromide
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Paroon shark
Paroon shark may eat Leopard sailfin plecoParoon shark may eat Leopard sailfin pleco
- Piraiba
Piraiba may eat Leopard sailfin plecoPiraiba may eat Leopard sailfin pleco
- Sailfin cory
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Shovelnose sturgeon
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Warmouth
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- Wels catfish
No shared temperature rangeNo shared temperature range
- White sturgeon
White sturgeon may eat Leopard sailfin plecoWhite sturgeon may eat Leopard sailfin pleco
- Acei cichlid
Narrow shared pH rangeNarrow shared pH range
Data used by the planner
| Temperature | 22–28 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.5–7.8 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium confidence |
| Hardness (dGH) | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · low confidence |
| Origin | Amazon and Orinoco basins | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Beginner friendly | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Swimming level | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Temperament | peaceful | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Nips fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Long fins | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Territorial | Yes | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lives in groups | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum group | 1 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Diet | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Lifespan (years) | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Months to adult size | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low confidence |
| Safe with plants | No | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |
| Minimum tank length | 180 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium confidence |