L264 Sultan Pleco Profile

Scientific Name : Leporanthicus joselimai sp. L264(Isbrucker & Nijssen, 1989)
Family : Loricariidae
Common Name : Sultan Pleco
Maximum Length : 15cm / 6"
Origin : Rio Tapajos, Brazil
pH Level : 6.0 - 7.6
Things to note: The Sultan pleco is predominantly a carnivore, as can be seen from its canine structure. Do not feed it vegetarian food only without protein content. It may be confused with the L160 Spiny Monster Pleco because of its dark body with black spots, but a closer examination of its canines, as well as its distinct greyer scales compared to the dark brown of L160 will reveal its identity.

Personal comments : This species belong to the Leporanthicus or vampire pleco family, because of their extremely long fangs. Other plecos in the family include the L007, L91, L172a and L240.

Tips : This pleco is very shy, and I have yet to see him forage for food. Will update this when I get to know it more.
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Sexual dimporphism / reproduction : Adult males have a much longer and broader head with small odontodes on the sides of head, more odontodes on pectoral fin spine and on the whole body, a bigger dorsal fin and normally a prettier coloration.

Feeding : A close look at the teeth of this pleco reveals we're dealing with a carnivore. Meaty foods like shrimp, krill, mussels, pieces of fish, blood worms, mosquito larvae, sinking carnivore wafers etc. are readily accepted. Once acclimatized, this species will also eat algae/bottomdwellers tablets and possibly even fresh vegetables.

Besides being a carnivore, the Sultan Pleco also appears to be a 'substrat filter feeder': I've often observed my specimen shuffling through the gravel in a forward dashing motion, after which it moves forwards over the 'trench' it just created. During this, it seems it use its huge sucker mouth as a net, sucking up small particles that were just whirled up: food is swallowed, inedible material such as wood particles and gravel are expelled through the gill slits.

Behavior in captivity : Being territorial, this species can be unfriendly towards its own kind and similar looking fish. Bottom dwellers of different color and pattern are usually left alone, although things may heaten up during feeding time.