Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a species of freshwater fish of the genus Pterygoplichthys

Pterygoplichthys

Pterygoplichthys is a genus of the armored catfish family Loricariidae. These fish are commonly known as sailfin armoured catfish or sailfin plecs.-Taxonomy:This genus was described in 1858 by Theodore Nicholas Gill...

of the family Loricariidae

Loricariidae

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish , with almost 700 species and new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and...

 of order Siluriformes.
This species is found throughout river basins in the Amazon

Amazon Basin

The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...

 region of South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

.

P. gibbiceps shows all the characteristic features of its genus—a large dorsal fin with more than nine rays, prominent nasal flares and a prominent hump or crest anterior to the dorsal fin as well as a substantial base to the dorsal fin. Adult fish easily attain 20 cm in length and can live for more than 20 years.

A typical plec

Plec

Plec may refer to:* species from the Loricariidae family: plec and pleco are common names which are often used in the aquarium trade* Plecostomus, an aquarium fish* Plectrum, a device for plucking or strumming a stringed instrument* Plec, Poland...

 shape is shown, patternation consists of primarily irregular largish brown spots on a yellowish backgroung giving a honeycombed like appearance, additional pattern features common to related species may be visible on close inspection. As this fish grows the spots get smaller.

Like most plecs this species is primarily vegetarian though will eat dead animals.

In the wild these fish are found in shoals in sluggish rivers of the Amazon

Amazon River

The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...

 and Orinoco

Orinoco

The Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes called the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3% of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia...

 river systems, they also occupy flooded land during the wet season. During the dry season P. gibbiceps will aestivate in burrows around 1 metre long dug into mud banks along the length of a river, egg rearing is also presumed to take place in burrow.

The species name comes from the Latin gibbus—hump and Greek cep—head, a reference to the centrally located ridge. Common names include 'gibbys', leopard sailfin catfish and clown plecs—the juveniles have a comical appearance due to the large and obvious spots.

Ancistrus gibbiceps and Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps are synonyms of P. gibbiceps.

In the aquarium

This fish is extremely popular in the aquarium, due to its unusual appearance and its ability to eat algae

Algae

Algae are a large and diverse group of simple, typically autotrophic organisms, ranging from unicellular to multicellular forms, such as the giant kelps that grow to 65 meters in length. They are photosynthetic like plants, and "simple" because their tissues are not organized into the many...

; the bane of all aquarists. This and other related species are bred in ponds in tropical regions for the aquarium trade. In general P. gibbiceps is peaceful towards other fish though territorial disputes arise with other plecos. Though not nocturnal they are more active at night and will spend daylight hours 'hiding' in a secluded location. Wood appears to be an essential part of this species diet—possibly as a digestive aid rather than for any nutritional value. As the fish grows big (up to 50 cm in the aquarium) a large tank with good filtration is required, in general these fish are tolerant to a wide range of freshwater conditions though prefer well aerated water.

Food

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is omnivore. We can feed them with vegetable such as nettles, lettuces, spinach or carrots. Their diet include meat part as well such as earthworms, blood worms or chopped shrimps. As a third option how to feed them is food from pet shop e.g. algae wafers. The best way how to breed your Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is to feed them with wide spectre of food. They will grow quickly (20 centimetres in one year) and they become healthy fish. When Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps grow up it can easily eat the whole aquarium plant.

Reproduction

It is almost impossible to recognize male from female. Sometimes we can recognize males in a group, because later they become more territorial. The reproduction is possible. Female lays roes into caves or hollows of the root. There is high rate of mortality till spawns are five centimeters long. The reason for that is still unknown.