Mixed zebra and white display

Save the Little Fish demo · Large, 55–75 gal · strong current, like a river or rapids · running 863 days · shared October 2026

Zebras and super whites together look great, but they are both Hypancistrus. Lovely to watch; never sell the fry.

Workable with care

The fish

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Zebra

L046

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Plecos · HypancistrusCR

28–31°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
3 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred.

Zebra

L046

Hypancistrus zebra

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 28–31°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 3 in · 8 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate, slow
Typical price: $150–500
In Canada: Occasional
Status in the wild: Critically endangered

Brazil banned wild export, so Canadian stock is tank-bred. Clean, even stripes where L236 are broken and patchy.

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Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Zebras keep to the rock work.

Super white

L236

Give us a picture and get credit! ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusRare

28–31°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
4 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most.

Super white

L236

Rio Xingu, Pará, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 28–31°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 9 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Moderate, slow
Typical price: $200–1000
In Canada: Rare
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Grading is by how much white shows, and the whitest fish sell for the most. Best at 29–30°C with strong flow and protein-heavy food.

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The whites are bolder and take the best caves.

Leopard frog

L134

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Plecos · PeckoltiaStaple

25–30°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Gentle
4 in
Bottom
Mixed
Peaceful

Yellow with black saddles.

Leopard frog

L134

Peckoltia compta

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · river

Temperature: 25–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 4 in · 11 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Moderate
Typical price: $30–120
In Canada: Common
Rarity: Pet-store staple

Yellow with black saddles. A different genus from L236, so no hybrid risk in the display.

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Photo: Frank M Greco, CC BY 3.0

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Leopard frogs are a different genus, so they're safe in the mix.

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Shared range 28–30°C
Every species is comfortable in this range.
2 Hypancistrus species can cross
L046, L236 can hybridize. Fine for looking at, but never sell or trade fry from this tank.
Stocking 38% of capacity
A rough estimate based on adult body size and tank volume.
Provide at least 9 caves
One per fish plus two spares, so nobody has to fight for a spot.
Only bottom dwellers
The open water above will look empty. A group of mid-water fish such as small tetras or rasboras fills it, if the water suits them.
Add strong flow
Some of these fish come from fast rivers. Run a powerhead along the bottom for flow and oxygen.
Tank size is a guess
Size and stocking checks use a typical tank of the size you picked. Add the real length and volume for a sharper answer.
Some values are estimates
Care data for L046, L134, L236 is estimated or taken from the genus, not yet checked against a source.