Gold spot sailfin pleco
Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
- Adult size
- 30 cm12 in
- Start with
- 1
- Tank length
- 150 cmabout 5 ft (59 in)
- Lifespan
- 15–20 yrs
- Temperature
- 24–29 °C75–84 °F
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Hardness
- 1–15 dGH
- Diet
- herbivore
A big sailfin pleco that bulldozes decor and produces heavy waste; needs a long tank with sturdy driftwood and strong filtration.A big sailfin pleco that bulldozes decor and produces heavy waste; needs a long tank with sturdy driftwood and strong filtration.
Tank sizes
Good tankmates
Avoid with
- Acei cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Brevis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Caudopunctatus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Multies
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Pindani
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Rusty cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Saulosi cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Similis shell dweller
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Afra cichlid
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
- Alligator gar
Alligator gar may eat Gold spot sailfin plecoAlligator gar may eat Gold spot sailfin pleco
- Arapaima
Arapaima may eat Gold spot sailfin plecoArapaima may eat Gold spot sailfin pleco
- Auratus
No shared pH rangeNo shared pH range
Sources
| temperature | 24–29 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04; agrees with FishBase (fishbase.se), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
|---|---|---|
| ph | 6–7.5 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| gh | 1–15 | AqAdvisor (aqadvisor.com), retrieved 2026-10-04 · medium |
| origin | Tocantins and Araguaia basins, Brazil | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| notes | A big sailfin pleco that bulldozes decor and produces heavy waste; needs a long | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| beginner friendly | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| care level | moderate | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| color palette | #2A2420, #E8C870 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| activity | sedentary | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| swim zone | bottom | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| temperament | peaceful | 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 | herbivore | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| lifespan years | 15–20 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| growth to adult months | 30 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| length weight | {"a":0.012,"b":3} | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · low |
| planted safe | false | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| min tank length | 150 | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |
| body shape | pleco | curated-v0 (needs expert review) · medium |