Classification
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Distribution:
Mostly collected in the in the rio Negro basin, Amazonas state, Brazil, and in particular the rio Demini, a northern tributary flowing into the central Negro in the municipality of Barcelos. P. leopardus was described from the Rupununi River in Guyana and the identity of this fish thus remains unconfirmed.
Maximum Standard Length:
200 – 250mm.
Aquarium Size:
An aquarium with base dimensions of 180 x 60 cm or larger is required for long-term care. It is advised to find a filter which has a water flow between 4-5 times the volume of your aquarium.
Maintenance:
Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we strongly recommend keeping it in a tank designed to simulate a flowing river with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel, and some water-worn boulders. This can be further furnished with driftwood branches, terracotta pipes, plant pots, etc., arranged to form a network of nooks, crannies, and shaded spots, thus providing broken lines of sight.
Water Conditions:
Temperature: 24 – 30 °C
pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 18 – 268 ppm
Diet:
Wild specimens are likely omnivorous but with a preference for aquatic invertebrates and suchlike. In the aquarium it does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus some fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc. Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients.
Sexual Dimorphism:
Adult males possess a broader head plus more extensive odontode development than females, particularly on the leading pectoral-fin rays and interopercular region.
Reproduction:
Cave-spawner with the male responsible for brood care. Has been bred in aquaria.
