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Scientific Name Hypostomus plecostomoides  (Eigenmann, 1922)
Common Names LDA038, Brown Pleco
LDA042, Brun Sugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Quebrada Gramalote, Villavicencio, Colombia
Synonym(s) Cochliodon plecostomoides
Pronunciation hi POSS tow muss
Etymology Greek, hypo = under + Greek, stoma = mouth. This specific epithet literally means sucker(pleco=sucker) mouth(stomus=mouth) like(-oides=like).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 256mm or 10.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Previously placed in Cochliodon and now included in the larger genus, Hypostomus as a member of the Hypostomus Cochliodon group. All these species have higher backs than other conspecifics and spoon shaped teeth (like Panaque). See link below. The three northern South American members of the Hypostomus cochliodon group, H. plecostomoides, H. taphorni, and H. hondae are very difficult to differentiate. The surest identification method is to know where the fish was imported from. H. plecostomoides is found throughout the Orinoco drainage, H. taphorni the Essequibo drainage, and H. hondae in northern Colombia and the Maracaibo drainage.
Sexing Gravid females are wider when viewed from above.
General Remarks Recorded in the Lake Valencia and Rio Tuy drainages in Venezuela. However, no specimens have been found in these drainages in some years and the heavy pollution present in these drainages may have extirpated this species from these drainages.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Meta River basin.
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Apure, Guarico (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.5 - 8.0
Temperature 21.0-27.0°C or 69.8-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters In general, the water should be clear, soft to medium in hardness with a near neutral pH. A strong powerhead should provide a fair current. The oxygen level should also be kept high.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Eats all normal aquarium foods. Fresh vegetables and driftwood are a must for this the proper care of this fish. User data.
Furniture Typically found amongst driftwood snags in the main river channel.
Compatibility A peaceful loricariid. The pictured specimen was captured in the Rio Tinaco, Cojedes State, Venezuela. It was captured on a large piece of driftwood along with Panaque maccus, P. nigrolineatus, L092, Hypoptopoma, Hypostomus emarginatus, and Lamontichthys llanero.
Breeding Spawns in holes in the soil of the river bank in the wet season. In the dry season, Iguanas use these same holes for their nests. The holes measure about 4-6 inches wide and up to 18 inches deep.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum v. 9 (no. 1), pp225, Pl. 11 (figs. 1-3).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 4 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2022 Feb 03 11:13 (species record created: 2002 Apr 06 00:00)