Like other fish clean bottoms like the catfish or otocinclus fish which is glass cleaner, today we come to talk about another fish that cleans fish tanks. Its about devil fish. Its scientific name is Hypostomus plecostomus and belongs to the order of the Siluriformes. It is also known by the name of fish sucking algae, cleaning glass, sucking stones, glass sucking or glass sucking.
In this article we are going to focus on describing this fish in depth and explaining all the care it needs in captivity. It is a resistant species, but it's not the "magic bullet" for cleaning your aquarium and requires space, a proper diet, and powerful filtration. Want to learn more about the devilfish? Keep reading.
Key features
When you are in nature, you can measure up to 40 centimeters in length, but in captivity it does not usually exceed 30 centimeters. Its body is flattened on the dorso-ventral part, while the back is arched and covered by bone plates (dermal shields). The dorsal and caudal fin areas are not covered by these plates.
The anterior part of the body is triangular, ending in an oval where the caudal peduncle is located. The head, like the dorsal-ventral axis, is flattened. The eyes are located laterally and they usually have irises with a foldable membrane that helps them regulate light.
With respect to its mouth, it is located in the lower part and has small barbels that allow them to stick to the glass of fish tanks to take food. They can also adhere to rocks and logs to suck up food. sucking mouth It also helps you anchor yourself and not be swept away when the current is strong.
The first dorsal fin is as large as a boat sail; the second is smaller. It has a wide caudal fin with a concave edge, which helps it move very quickly over short distances to escape potential predators. The anal fin is small, while the highly developed pectoral and ventral fins They work like “shovels” to lean on the bottom.
Color, body and behavior
Its body is light brown with some dark round spotsThe head also has dark spots. Depending on the species or variety, some specimens have more uniform, darker coloration. In juveniles, a more contrasting pattern is common, which fades with age.
This fish, which cleans tanks, has no scales, but protects its body with cartilage plates and spines (odontodes). It uses these spines to protect itself from predators or even to fight with its own species. It has a longer lifespan than other species. de peces, being able to live up to 15 years with good care.
As for its behavior, it is a fish nocturnal habits. It remains hidden during the day, especially in bright lighting. It is generally calm with fish from other swimming areas, but can be territorial with other bottom-dwelling fish and with conspecifics, especially in small aquariums or with insufficient shelters.
It is important to know that some individuals develop the behavior of “suck” the mucus de peces Large, slow-moving, or long-finned fish (e.g., cold water fish like Goldfish, which are not recommended for living with due to parameters and risk of harassment). This behavior appears more in aquariums with poor diet or limited space.
The devil fish has the ability to survive a long time out of the water and even "walk" on wet surfaces, thanks to its robustness since it is capable of breathe air using a modified stomach. Situations have been reported de peces devil that have survived up to 14 hours out of water, although it should not be tested in captivity.
Range and habitat
The fish is native to Central and South America. It can be found in countries like Costa Rica, Uruguay, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Guyana. They can also be found in the Amazon Basin, especially in the Orinoco River. In their native range, they occupy rivers and streams with a medium to fast, in addition to flood lagoons and banks with clayey slopes where it digs galleries.
As for its natural habitat, it prefers well-oxygenated waters with varied substrates (sand, gravel, and rocks), submerged logs, and natural shelters. It is not afraid of strong currents, as it can cling to rocks with its sucking mouth. Specimens have also been recorded in calmer, turbid waters. tolerating low oxygen levels thanks to its facultative air breathing.
In many regions outside its native area it has become a Invasive species due to irresponsible releases. This causes ecological damage: bank erosion by their galleries, egg predation de peces natives and competition for resources. Devilfish should never be released into local rivers, lakes, or ponds.
Devil fish reproduction
It reaches sexual maturity when reaches 30-40 centimeters in length. It takes them about a year to reach this size, depending on food availability and temperature. To spawn, these fish dig horizontal galleries on walls with soft, clayey soil. This is where the female lays her eggs, usually in large clutches.
Because of this reproductive behavior it is practically impossible to reproduce them in home aquariumsOnce the female lays her eggs, the male expels her from the cavity and takes charge of ventilation and defense of the nest. Occasionally, the male is aggressive. This parental care contrasts with other fish, such as the surgeon fish, who is not in charge of caring for their young.
There are records of breeding in large ponds or facilities with clay slopes, but there is no reproducible protocol for standard aquariums. If you are interested in breeding loricariids, species such as ancistrus They are more suitable for their ease in tube caves.
Meals
Their feeding It is omnivorous with a clear vegetal biasIt is characterized by eating algae that it scrapes off the surface of rocks, logs, or glass, although this is not enough to nourish it. It may also eat leftover food from other fish, even if it is beginning to decompose, which should not be its main source of food due to the risk of poor water quality.
It is at night that they leave their shelters to look for food. They usually stick to logs at the bottom to scrape wood fibers: Cellulose and lignin help with digestive transit. Therefore, it is highly recommended to include natural woods (mopani, red moor or similar) well cured in the aquarium.
Recommended diet plan:
- Daily: : vegetable-rich bottom tablets (spirulina, algae and fiber), blanched spinach leaves and lettuce leaves, slices of zucchini or cucumber (previously blanched and held with a vegetable clip).
- 2-3 times a week: skinless peas, cooked pumpkin, nori seaweed.
- Occasional (1 time/week): moderate protein intake such as mosquito larvae, crushed shrimp or protein pellets, to avoid deficiencies, without overdoing it.
Key feeding tips:
- Does not eat “poop” or only algae: needs a varied and quality diet.
- Remove vegetable scraps within 12-24 hours to avoid degrading the water.
- Offer food with the lights dimmed or off to accommodate nighttime activity.
- Always keep trunks at your service.
Necessary care in captivity
For those who want to keep the devilfish in their aquarium, a specific care list must be followed. It is quite compatible with other species. de peces of aquarium. He doesn't pay much attention to the other fish. that swim in the middle or upper zone, since they stay at the bottom. If you find a specimen of the same species, can become aggressive. You need space to swim and move around comfortably.
Aquarium Requirements:
- Volume: you need a tank that can hold between 200 and 300 liters minimumFor large adults, the more, the better. In smaller aquariums, aggression and water quality problems increase.
- Filtration: very powerful and with good circulation. They are fish that generate a lot of wasteUse oversized external filters and support with pre-filters or sponges. Aim for 7-10 times the aquarium volume per hour.
- Oxygenation and current: Add a diffuser or surface skimmer if necessary. Moderate flow is preferred.
- Substratum: rounded gravel or sand to prevent friction; avoid sharp edges.
- Decoration: natural trunks, firm stones and many shelters (caves, ceramic pipes). Leave areas free to move around.
- Automotive Lighting : Moderate; they appreciate shaded areas created by logs or floating plants.
Water parameters:
- Temperature: must be between 22 and 30 ° CA comfortable and stable range for most specimens is 24-28 ºC.
- pH: slightly acidic to mildly alkaline, around 6,8-7,8The original states slightly hard alkaline; it works well on medium hardness.
- Hardness: average; avoid extremes. Stability is more important than the exact figure.
- Maintenance: weekly changes of the 30-50%, bottom siphoning and regular cleaning of pre-filters.
Compatibility:
- Better alone or with a single individual in medium-sized aquariums. Cohabitation with other large loricarids can be difficult if there isn't enough space or shelter.
- Good companions: medium-sized, agile characins, moderate-sized peaceful cichlids, avoiding long-finned fish or very slow.
- Avoid Goldfish and coldwater species due to thermal incompatibility and risk of harassment.
- With invertebrates: it can prey snails and young; with small shrimp it is not recommended.
Important reminder: It is not a fish for beginners if adequate volume and filtration are not available. Although it helps with algae and debris, does not replace maintenance aquarium regular.
Common mistakes and alternatives for small aquariums
Frequent errors that should be avoided:
- To think that “It feeds only on algae and waste”. He needs a complete diet.
- Keep it in small aquariums or overcrowded.
- Lack of trunks and shelters.
- Living with slow-moving or long-finned fish that lurk at night.
- neglect the filtration and water changes despite its high waste production.
If you are looking for “helper” species for small or community aquariums, consider these more manageable alternatives: ancistrus (dwarf pleco), otocinclus, Corydoras, apple snails and Planorbis. Each provides different benefits and they don't grow that much , the Hypostomus.
Health, signs of stress and good practices
To keep your devilfish in optimal condition, follow these guidelines:
- Signs of stress: rapid breathing, loss of color, excessive hiding, stop eating, swimming erratically.
- Prevention: stability in parameters, diet rich in vegetable fiber, sufficient shelters and low aggressiveness at the bottom.
- Body care: Check for plate friction and fin erosion; avoid sharp decorations.
- Quarantine: for new fish and for the pleco itself if it comes from systems with diseases.
Environmental responsibility
The devilfish has been introduced to several countries where it is considered invasive. Never release it into the wildIf you can no longer keep them, seek adoption from another aquarist or a responsible pet store. Remember: releasing domesticated animals into native ecosystems causes Severe damage to the local fauna.
Like the clownfish, it eats algae and food scraps hidden in the substrate. It needs food. de peces background and some vegetables to develop properly. Maintain a nightly feeding schedule and a constant cleaning routine so that the aquarium remains stable.
With this information, you'll be able to take good care of the devilfish in your fish tank. In return, you'll be able to keep the bottom of the tank clean. Still, remember that success with this species depends on enough space, powerful filtration, varied plant-based diet, abundance of shelters and logs, and a planned coexistence. If you follow these steps, you'll enjoy a long-lived, resilient, and very interesting fish to watch for years to come.