Zebra Pleco
Hypancistrus zebra
Also known as: Zebra plec, Imperial pleco, L046
Quick Facts
- Adult size: 7-8 cm (2.75-3.1 inches)
- Minimum tank size: 90 litres (24 gallons)
- Lifespan: 10–15 years
- Temperament: peaceful
- Swimming level: bottom
- Diet: carnivore
- Minimum group size: 1
- Difficulty: advanced
Water Parameters
- Temperature: 26–30°C
- pH: 6–7.5
- Hardness (GH): 71–214 ppm (4–12 dGH)
Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.
Care Summary
The most famous pleco of all, the zebra (L046) is a small, jewel-like fish boldly striped in black and white, from a single stretch of the Rio Xingu in Brazil. Two things define its care. First, it is not an algae eater: Hypancistrus are carnivores, and the zebra needs a protein-rich diet of sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworm, and similar meaty foods. Second, it needs warm, clean, well-oxygenated water, ideally 27 to 30 degrees, which is hotter than most community tanks run. It is peaceful and even a little shy, and it competes poorly for food against fast or boisterous tankmates, so choose calm companions. Brazil banned the export of wild zebras in 2004, so the fish in Australian shops are captive-bred and command a high price. For a patient keeper with a warm, mature, gently-stocked tank, it is a jaw-dropping and long-lived centrepiece.
Tankmates
Peaceful and shy, and a poor competitor for food, so it must have calm, slow-feeding tankmates such as small tetras, rasboras, dwarf rainbowfish, dwarf cichlids, and corydoras. It needs warm water of 27 to 30 degrees, so pair it only with fish that enjoy the same heat. Avoid fast, greedy, or aggressive tankmates that will outcompete or bully it, and keep it away from large cichlids. Several can be kept together in a mature, cave-rich tank, as they are not aggressive to their own kind.
Compatible with
- Cardinal Tetra
- Rummynose Tetra
- Harlequin Rasbora
- Sterbai Corydoras
- German Blue Ram
- Dwarf Neon Rainbowfish
Avoid keeping with
- Large Cichlids
- Aggressive Tankmates
- Cool Water Species
Common Problems
- being starved on an algae-based diet when it needs meaty foods
- struggling to compete for food with fast or boisterous tankmates
- sensitivity to warmth and oxygen, needing 27 to 30 degrees and clean water
- high purchase cost and occasional misidentified or wild-caught stock
Sources: planetcatfish.com, seriouslyfish.com · Last updated: 2026-10-04