All FishesLoricariidaeHypostominaeHypancistrus  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Hypancistrus debilittera  Armbruster, Lujan & Taphorn, 2007
Common Names L129, Colombian Zebra Pleco
Colombiansk Zebramalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Pasaganado, 38 kilometers north of San Fernando de Atabapo, 4°23'04''N, 67°46'28''W, Río Orinoco, Amazonas, Venezuela
Pronunciation hype an siss truss
Etymology A contraction of the Greek hypo (meaning less than) and ancistrus, an allusion to the reduced number of teeth (particularly in the lower jaw) found in this genus. A combination of the Latin debilis meaning weak and littera meaning letter, in reference to the weak or absent E on the snout.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 70mm or 2.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Dark brown base coloration with fine yellowish stripe. Rather large eyes compared with the body length (like Hypancistrus inspector. A small mouth with typical Hypancistrus dentition.
Sexing Typical of the genus; males have longer pectoral and interopercular odontodes, they also have plate odontodes on the body. Females are rounder in the ventral region.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Río Orinoco in Venezuela.
Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Bita (click on these areas to find other species found there)

Log in to view data on a map.
IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.4 - 7.6
Temperature 24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Omnivore. They still seem to prefer meaty foods such as blood worms, gammarus or brine shrimps. Commercially prepared food such as Spirulina tabs are also eaten. User data.
Furniture Fine sand, driftwood, slate and/or bamboo caves. Plants can be kept without fear of damage from this species.
Compatibility Its small size makes it a good citizen for small tanks. Males are more territorial than females and are territorial toward conspecifics and other Loricariidae of about the same size.
Suggested Tankmates Small tetras and other similar small fish. Also Corydoras. Care has to be taken to ensure that they get enough food, as they can be a bit shy and slow to grab food when available.
Breeding Females lay about 20 eggs of about 3mm in diameter in a cave. Brood guarded by the male in the cave. Raising of the young is unproblematic if a good hygiene is provided.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Copeia 2007 (no. 1), pp 68, Figs. 1D, 5.
Registered Keepers There are 3 registered keepers, view all "my fish" data.
Wishlists Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list.
There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars!
There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
Look up PlanetCatfish.com Look up H. debilittera on PlanetCatfish.com
Look up on Fishbase Look up H. debilittera on Fishbase
Look up on Encyclopedia of Life Look up H. debilittera on Encyclopedia of Life
Look up on Global Biodiversity Information Facility Look up H. debilittera on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Hypancistrus debilittera QR code LFS label creator
Last Update 2022 Jan 11 07:30 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)