Zebra pleco

Where they come from

Zebra plecos (Hypancistrus zebra) come from Brazil's Rio Xingu, a big, fast river with warm water, tons of oxygen, and rocky crevices everywhere. That background explains basically everything about them in aquariums: they like it hot, clean, and moving, and they want tight caves they can claim.

Setting up their tank

The tank is won or lost on water quality and oxygen. I have had the best luck treating their tank like a little river: strong filtration, lots of flow, and no detritus sitting around. They do not forgive a dirty, low-oxygen setup, especially at the temperatures they like.

• Tank size: 20-30 gallons can work for a small group, but more space makes it easier to keep stable water and spread out caves
• Temperature: 82-86F is a sweet spot for most groups; they can handle warm, but warm water needs more oxygen and clean filtration
• pH and hardness: they are not super picky if stable; neutral-ish to slightly acidic is common (roughly pH 6.5-7.5)
• Flow and oxygen: add a powerhead or strong return flow; surface agitation matters a lot
• Filtration: oversized sponge filters plus a canister or HOB works great; prefilter sponges keep baby fish from vanishing
• Substrate: sand or bare-bottom both work; I like sand because it looks natural, but bare-bottom makes feeding and cleanup easier
• Decor: piles of rock and lots of caves; keep lines of sight broken so everyone can claim a spot
• Lighting: they do not need bright light; dimmer tanks bring them out more

What to feed them

They are not algae grazers in the way people expect. Mine spend most of their feeding time hunting and picking at meaty foods. They'll eat some plant-based stuff, but you will get better body weight and better breeding results with a protein-leaning menu.

• Staples: quality sinking carnivore pellets and wafers (look for fish/shrimp as main ingredients)
• Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp, mysis, chopped krill (go easy with rich foods until you know your tank stays clean)
• Fresh: small bits of shrimp or clam occasionally, rinsed well
• Bonus: a little zucchini or green bean now and then, mostly for variety

Feed after lights out and you will see them more. I like doing smaller feedings more often rather than dumping a big meal in. Leftover food rots fast at 84F.

How they behave and who they get along with

They are mostly nocturnal and pretty chill in the open, but they get serious about caves. You will see sparring and shoving, especially between males, and especially if caves are limited or all the same size.

• Best kept: in a small group with multiple caves per fish
• Male-to-male: expect territory fights if space is tight
• Tankmates: small, peaceful fish that tolerate warm water (avoid anything that constantly raids caves or stresses them)
• Avoid: large aggressive cichlids, fin nippers, and anything known for eating eggs/fry or bullying bottom fish

If you want to breed them, a species-only tank makes life simpler. In a community tank they can still spawn, but eggs and tiny fry are easy snacks for just about everyone.

Breeding tips

Breeding zebra plecos is doable, but you have to stack the odds. You want a mature group, lots of caves, heavy feeding, and very steady clean water. Most spawns happen in caves with a male guarding the clutch.

• Group setup: start with 5-8 juveniles if you can; let them grow out and sort themselves out
• Caves: different sizes and shapes, tight entrances, placed in areas with decent flow
• Trigger: slightly cooler water changes can help, especially if your tank has been warm and stable for a while
• Male behavior: the male will often sit in the cave and fan the eggs; don't panic if you barely see him for days
• Fry: once free-swimming, they need tiny meaty foods (crushed pellets, baby brine shrimp, finely chopped frozen foods)

Common problems to watch for

Most zebra pleco problems trace back to the same stuff: dirty warm water, low oxygen, or being outcompeted for food. They are hardy enough once settled, but they do not bounce back fast if you let the tank slip.

• Fast breathing or hanging in high-flow areas: often low oxygen or rising waste at high temperature
• Hollow bellies: not getting enough food (common in community tanks) or internal parasites in new imports
• White fuzz on eggs: fungus, often from infertile eggs or poor flow in the cave
• Sudden losses after a big feeding: leftover food fouling the tank overnight
• Aggression injuries: torn fins or scrape marks from cave fights

My go-to routine is simple: strong flow, frequent partial water changes, feed with a light hand, and vacuum out junk before it becomes a problem. If you do that and give them caves, zebra plecos usually reward you by actually coming out and acting like they own the place.