Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Candy Striped Pleco
Peckoltia vittata (Steindachner, 1881)
Also called Candy-striped pleco, Tiger pleco, L015, L-015
From Brazilian Amazon basin, including the Tapajos, Madeira, Xingu, Uatuma, Trombetas, Capim and Maranhao rivers, plus the Rio Ventuari in Venezuela; a record from Colombia's upper Guaviare is unconfirmed.12
At a glance the quick version
Maximum total length.
Looks how to spot one
Bony-plated suckermouth catfish
A compact armoured pleco with a suckermouth and an overall pattern of bold dark bands on a lighter base. The head carries a dark wedge on the snout and a dark bar across the top, and young fish can show an E-shaped dark mark on the snout. Mature males grow small tooth-like bristles (odontodes) along the rear half of the body.12
Personality what they are like
A calm, retiring catfish that spends the day tucked among rocks and wood and becomes busier after dark.12
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Mostly active at night, grazing over rocks and wood on the tank floor. Can gulp air at the surface when it needs to.1
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Tropical freshwater pleco for soft to moderately hard water: FishBase lists 23-26 C, pH 5.0-7.5 and 2-20 dH, while Wikipedia gives 22-26 C and pH around 6. A minimum tank length of about 80 cm is suggested. Provide plenty of rocky caves and wood, steady water quality and some sinking foods for the evening.12
Home where they are happiest
Comes from rocky stretches of Amazonian rivers. An aquarium of at least 80 cm with rockwork, caves and driftwood mirrors its home.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Grazes algae in the wild; in aquariums it also nibbles plant matter and roots. Offer algae-based sinking wafers and vegetables, with occasional small meaty foods.12
Company who they like around
FishBase suggests keeping it in groups of five or more; it is peaceful toward other fish.12
The story where it all began
Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner described this pleco in 1881 under the name Chaetostomus vittatus. Later moved to Peckoltia, it entered the aquarium hobby under the code L015 and became a popular choice for its stripes.21
Fun facts for the dinner table
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018)1
- DATZ L-number
- Traded under the hobby code L0152
- Taxonomy
- Family Loricariidae; described by Franz Steindachner in 1881, originally as Chaetostomus vittatus2
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Candy Striped Pleco. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Peckoltia vittata summary fishbase.seused for distribution, length, water parameters, IUCN, diet, behaviour, markings
- Wikipedia: Peckoltia vittata en.wikipedia.orgused for names, L-number, description, care, taxonomy, confusion species
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.