The L411 Monte Dourado Pleco (Hypancistrus sp.) is an strikingly beautiful member of the Loricariidae family of South American suckermouth catfishes. Its entire body is covered in black and white “maze-like” stripes, making it a standout fish for the planted or nano aquarium. Like many plecos, the Monte Dourado Pleco has generally been a wild-caught species, but we are proud to be among the first stores to offer superior tank-raised juveniles at a generally lower cost than wild-caught specimens! A generally peaceful and hardy species, the Monte Dourado Pleco is an excellent, undemanding candidate for many tropical aquariums. Unlike the widely-seen Common Pleco (Hypostomus plecostomus) and Trinidad Pleco (Hypostomus punctatus), which easily reach a monstrous size of 18 to 20+ inches (45 to 51+ cm), the Monte Dourado Pleco grows to a size of up to only 5.1 inches (13 cm). This smaller size makes for a much more manageable (and less messy) pleco that can thrive permanently in a well-maintained aquarium as small as 25-30 gallons. Male plecos may be somewhat territorial with other males of their species, but disputes can usually be diffused by providing ample territory and hiding places for each fish. All other fish tankmates will be generally ignored, although it is possible that juvenile and subadult dwarf shrimp may fall prey to the Monte Dourado Pleco. However, ornamental snails will not be bothered and large Amano, Green Lace, Flower, and Vampire Shrimp are generally unthreatened by this fish. Please note that this fish requires a significantly warmer temperature than some other fish and invertebrates, especially subtropical species. Some shrimp will not thrive in these high temperatures.