The fish list

Sultan

L264

Leporacanthicus joselimai

Rio Tapajós, Brazil · rapids

Temperature

26–30°C

pH

5.5–7.5

Adult size

8 in · 20 cm

Flow

Strong

Swims

Bottom

Temperament

Territorial

Diet

Carnivore

Breeding

Hard

Typical price

$60–150

In Canada

Occasional

Rarity

Rare or hard to breed

White spots and white-tipped fins on black. Grows to about 20 cm and holds a cave firmly.

Photo: Thomas Siems, CC BY-SA 2.0

Galaxy vampire

L029

Leporacanthicus galaxias

Rio Tocantins and nearby Pará rivers, Brazil · rapids

Temperature

26–30°C

pH

5.5–7.5

Adult size

10 in · 25 cm

Flow

Strong

Swims

Bottom

Temperament

Aggressive

Diet

Carnivore

Breeding

Hard

Typical price

$60–200

In Canada

Occasional

Rarity

Rare or hard to breed

The vampire pleco. Beautiful, but it gets large and bullies smaller plecos.

Three-beacon vampire

L091

Leporacanthicus triactis

Orinoco, Venezuela · rapids

Temperature

26–30°C

pH

5.5–7.5

Adult size

8 in · 20 cm

Flow

Strong

Swims

Bottom

Temperament

Territorial

Diet

Carnivore

Breeding

Hard

Typical price

$60–150

In Canada

Occasional

Rarity

Rare or hard to breed

Eats snails and holds a cave firmly. Can be rough with smaller plecos.