Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) Breeding Guide

Why the Sailfin Pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps) is not home-bred: it digs metre-long burrows to spawn and is produced commercially in tropical ponds, not in home aquaria.

Overview

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps reaches around 50 cm (20 in) and is not bred in home aquaria. This and related species are bred in ponds in tropical regions for the aquarium trade, where the fish have the space to dig the long burrows their spawning behaviour requires.

Sexing

It can be almost impossible to differentiate males from females, which is a further obstacle to any controlled pairing in captivity.

How It Reproduces

During the dry season the fish aestivate in burrows about one metre (3 ft 3 in) long dug into mud banks, and egg rearing is presumed to take place in the burrow. Reproduction involves females laying eggs into caves or hollows among roots. These requirements are met in pond farms rather than in tanks.

Commercial Breeding & Fry Mortality

Commercial pond breeding supplies the trade. There is a high rate of mortality until the spawn are about five centimetres (two inches) long, and the reason for this is unknown, which is one reason rearing is left to specialist pond operations.