Gold Nugget Pleco
Baryancistrus xanthellus
Also known as: Gold nugget, L018, L081, L085, L177
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 22-25 cm (8.7-9.8 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 200 litres (53 gallons)
- Lifespan: 8–12 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Diet: omnivore
- Minimum group size: 1
- Difficulty: advanced
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 25–30°C
- pH: 6.4–7.6
- Hardness (GH): 54–214 ppm (3–12 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
One of the most striking plecos in the hobby, the gold nugget is a jet-black fish covered in bright golden-yellow spots, with a matching yellow band along the edge of the dorsal and tail fins. It comes from the warm, fast, oxygen-rich clearwater of Brazil's Rio Xingu, and those conditions are the key to keeping it: warm water of 25 to 30 degrees, strong flow, and high oxygen. It is often sold as an algae eater, but that is misleading. The gold nugget is an omnivore with a long gut suited to vegetable matter, and it will slowly starve in a clean, algae-free tank unless it is actively fed a varied diet of vegetables, sinking pellets, and some protein. It is peaceful towards other fish but territorial towards other bottom dwellers and openly hostile to its own kind, so keep just one per tank with plenty of bogwood and caves. A spectacular but demanding fish, best suited to an established, well-filtered setup.
Tankmates
Peaceful towards mid and upper water fish, so it suits a warm community of rainbowfish, larger tetras, and peaceful cichlids such as angelfish and discus. Keep only one gold nugget per tank: they are territorial towards other bottom dwellers and openly aggressive to their own kind. Provide bogwood and several caves so it can claim a territory, with strong flow and high oxygen. It needs warmth, so avoid cool-water tankmates.
Compatible with
- Angelfish
- Discus
- Rummynose Tetra
- Congo Tetra
- Boeseman's Rainbowfish
- Sterbai Corydoras
- German Blue Ram
- Pearl Gourami
Avoid keeping with
- Large Cichlids
- Fin Nippers
- Common Pleco
- Cool Water Species
Common Problems
- slow starvation when kept as an algae eater without targeted feeding
- sensitivity to low oxygen and poor water quality
- territorial aggression towards other bottom dwellers and its own kind
- ich if chilled below its warm preferred range
Sources: planetcatfish.com, seriouslyfish.com · Last updated: 2026-10-04