{"product_id":"albino-common-pleco-hypostomus-plectostomus-5cm","title":"Albino Common Pleco Hypostomus Plectostomus 5cm","description":"\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Albino Common Pleco is a creamy yellow-white armoured catfish with pink eyes and the same tall sail-like dorsal fin as the standard form. A suckermouth grazer from the Amazon basin, it scrapes algae from every surface. It only suits keepers with a very large tank or indoor pond, as it grows huge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAdult Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Around 40–50 cm (16–20 in) in aquaria\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/em\u003e 15–20 years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eNative to:\u003c\/em\u003e Amazon basin, Brazil and Peru\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHabitat:\u003c\/em\u003e Slow rivers, floodplain lakes and muddy backwaters\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFeeding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDiet:\u003c\/em\u003e Omnivorous, mostly herbivorous grazer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003ePreferred Foods:\u003c\/em\u003e Algae wafers, courgette, cucumber, spinach, sinking pellets, occasional bloodworm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFeeding Habits:\u003c\/em\u003e Feed after lights out nightly; algae alone is never enough\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTank Mates\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBest with:\u003c\/em\u003e Large robust fish: big cichlids, silver dollars, large barbs, bichirs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvoid:\u003c\/em\u003e Small fish, other large plecos, slow flat-bodied fish it may rasp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAggression \u0026amp; Behaviour\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperament:\u003c\/em\u003e Peaceful with mid-water fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTerritoriality:\u003c\/em\u003e Intolerant of other large plecos and bottom dwellers as it matures\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExperience Level\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDifficulty:\u003c\/em\u003e Intermediate, due to size\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eChallenges:\u003c\/em\u003e Enormous adult size, heavy waste load, uproots plants\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater Parameters\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eWater Type:\u003c\/em\u003e Freshwater, soft to moderately hard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTemperature:\u003c\/em\u003e 23–28°C (73–82°F)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003epH:\u003c\/em\u003e 6.5–7.5\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eHardness:\u003c\/em\u003e 5–20 dGH\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eFlow:\u003c\/em\u003e Moderate, with strong filtration\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eTank Size:\u003c\/em\u003e Minimum 450 litres for an adult; 1000 litres or a large indoor pond is better\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinal Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 5 cm juvenile grows fast and within two years will outgrow most home aquaria, so only buy with a very large tank or indoor pond planned. Fish sold under this name are usually Pterygoplichthys pardalis rather than true Hypostomus. It is nocturnal, needs a driftwood cave, produces huge amounts of waste and will bulldoze plants and decor. Given the space, it becomes a hardy, characterful centrepiece that can live for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"SimsTF","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":64680668365177,"sku":"STF-PLECO-ALB-COMMON","price":10.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1026\/3124\/4153\/files\/STF-PLECO-ALB-COMMON.png?v=1790096925","url":"https:\/\/birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk\/products\/albino-common-pleco-hypostomus-plectostomus-5cm","provider":"Birchwood Aquatic Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}