Plecos · Hypancistrus

Zebra L046

Hypancistrus zebra · Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Photo: Birger A, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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

The Zebra L046 (Hypancistrus zebra) is a freshwater fish from Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil, where it lives in rapids habitat. Adults reach about 8 cm (3.1 in). Keep it at 28–31 °C (82–88 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5, with strong, well-oxygenated flow. It is peaceful. Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

At a glance

Water temperature

28–31 °C 82–88 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

8 cm 3.1 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Current

Strong fast, oxygen-rich water

Food

Meaty foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil

Xingu

Lives in rapids habitat.

The dot marks where it's collected. Map: Natural Earth.

Zebra

L046

≈

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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Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with high flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Aggressive and will eat the zebra

Oscar
Need different temperatures

Amano shrimp Black skirt tetra Butterfly hillstream loach Celestial pearl danio Cherry barb
Want calm water

Angelfish Betta (Siamese fighting fish)

In the hobby

In stock now

Aquarists Across Canada, Victoria · $299.99
(Pre-Order) L46 ZEBRA PLECO (Hypancistrus zebra) · seen Sep 25

Search Kijiji for L046

Tanks with this fish

Demo Mixed zebra and white display Save the Little Fish demo · 7 fish, 3 kinds

Demo Xingu pleco display Save the Little Fish demo · 7 fish, 2 kinds

From keepers

Zebras keep to the rock work.
Save the Little Fish demo, keeping 3 in Mixed zebra and white display Demo

Our zebras took a year to settle, then spawned in the back cave every few months.
Save the Little Fish demo, keeping 4 in Xingu pleco display Demo

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Zebra L046 get?

About 8 cm (3.1 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Zebra L046 need?

28–31 °C (82–88 °F).

What pH does a Zebra L046 need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Is the Zebra L046 aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a Zebra L046 eat?

Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

Where does the Zebra L046 come from?

Volta Grande of the Rio Xingu, Brazil.

What fish can live with a Zebra L046?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Boeseman's rainbowfish, German blue ram, Cardinal tetra.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	28	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	31	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Genus default (genus)
pH max	7.5	Genus default (genus)
Adult size (cm)	8	Estimate
Flow	High	Estimate
Habitat	rapids	Estimate
Temperament	Peaceful	Estimate
Diet	Carnivore	Estimate
Breeding difficulty	Moderate, slow	Estimate
Availability in Canada	occasional	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	150	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	500	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.