Plecos · Hypancistrus

Snowball L102

Hypancistrus inspector · Upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, Venezuela and Brazil

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Bigger, sparser white spots than L201, and a bigger fish overall.

The Snowball L102 (Hypancistrus inspector) is a freshwater fish from Upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, Venezuela and Brazil, where it lives in rapids habitat. Adults reach about 15 cm (5.9 in). Keep it at 26–29 °C (79–84 °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

26–29 °C 79–84 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

15 cm 5.9 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

Upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, Venezuela and Brazil

Negro, Casiquiare

Lives in rapids habitat.

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

Snowball

L102

Give us a picture and get credit! ≈

Plecos · HypancistrusUncommon

26–29°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Strong!
6 in
Bottom
Meat
Peaceful

Bigger, sparser white spots than L201, and a bigger fish overall.

Snowball

L102

Hypancistrus inspector

Upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, Venezuela and Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 26–29°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 6 in · 15 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Easy
Typical price: $40–80
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Bigger, sparser white spots than L201, and a bigger fish overall.

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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 Goldfish Hillstream loach
Aggressive

Galaxy vampire L029 Guyana leopard cactus L600

In the hobby

In stock now

Not in stock at any store we track.

Search Kijiji for L102

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 Snowball L102 get?

About 15 cm (5.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Snowball L102 need?

26–29 °C (79–84 °F).

What pH does a Snowball L102 need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Is the Snowball L102 aggressive?

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

What does a Snowball L102 eat?

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

Where does the Snowball L102 come from?

Upper Rio Negro and Casiquiare, Venezuela and Brazil.

What fish can live with a Snowball L102?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram, Bronze corydoras.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	26	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	29	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Genus default (genus)
pH max	7.5	Genus default (genus)
Adult size (cm)	15	Estimate
Flow	High	Estimate
Habitat	rapids	Estimate
Temperament	Peaceful	Estimate
Diet	Carnivore	Estimate
Breeding difficulty	Easy	Estimate
Availability in Canada	occasional	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	40	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	80	Estimate

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