Plecos · Baryancistrus

Gold nugget L081

Baryancistrus xanthellus · Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177 · also L018, L085, L177, LDA116, LDA117, LDA60

Photo: Anne Blindheim, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges. Grows larger than Hypancistrus and holds a territory.

The Gold nugget L081 (Baryancistrus xanthellus) is a freshwater fish from Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177, where it lives in rapids habitat. Adults reach about 20 cm (7.9 in). Keep it at 27–30 °C (81–86 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5, with strong, well-oxygenated flow. It is territorial. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

27–30 °C 81–86 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

20 cm 7.9 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Current

Strong fast, oxygen-rich water

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Territorial

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

Where it comes from

Home water

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177

Xingu, Iriri

Lives in rapids habitat.

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

Gold nugget

L081

≈

Plecos · BaryancistrusRare

27–30°C!
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
8 in!
Bottom
Mixed
Territorial!

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges.

Gold nugget

L081

Baryancistrus xanthellus

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177 · rapids

Temperature: 27–30°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 8 in · 20 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Hard
Typical price: $60–250
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Black with yellow spots and gold fin edges. Grows larger than Hypancistrus and holds a territory.

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Photo: Anne Blindheim, 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

Want calm water

Angelfish Betta (Siamese fighting fish)Guppy
Need different temperatures

Butterfly hillstream loach Celestial pearl danio Cherry shrimp Goldfish
Aggressive

Galaxy vampire L029

In the hobby

In stock now

Aquarists Across Canada, Victoria · $59.99
L18 GOLD NUGGET PLECO (Baryancistrus xanthellus) · seen Sep 25

Search Kijiji for L081

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Gold nugget L081 get?

About 20 cm (7.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Gold nugget L081 need?

27–30 °C (81–86 °F).

What pH does a Gold nugget L081 need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Is the Gold nugget L081 aggressive?

It is territorial. Give it its own cave or space.

What does a Gold nugget L081 eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Gold nugget L081 come from?

Rio Xingu, and the Rio Iriri for L177.

What fish can live with a Gold nugget L081?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Boeseman's rainbowfish, Cardinal tetra, Ember tetra.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	27	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	30	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Genus default (genus)
pH max	7.5	Genus default (genus)
Adult size (cm)	20	Estimate
Flow	High	Estimate
Habitat	rapids	Estimate
Temperament	Territorial	Estimate
Diet	Omnivore	Estimate
Breeding difficulty	Hard	Estimate
Availability in Canada	occasional	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	60	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	250	Estimate

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