A zebra pleco, Hypancistrus zebra, is a species of catfish that has become increasingly popular with fish enthusiasts due to its unusual appearance and relatively docile nature. This bottom-feeding fish can be recognized by the bold black-and-white fins that cover the fish. A zebra pleco typically lives at least 15 years and grows to 4 inches (about 10 cm) in length. Zebra plecos are fairly peaceful fish that can share an aquarium with most other types of community fish, so long as the aquarium is not too crowded. The water in an aquarium containing a zebra pleco should be maintained at a pH level of between six and seven with a temperature around 75° Fahrenheit (about 24° Celsius).
This fish was not discovered until the early 1990s in its native habitat in some of the tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil. Although the zebra pleco was distributed worldwide throughout the 1990s, the exportation of the fish from Brazil became prohibited at the turn of the century due to threats to the survival of the species caused by the construction of the Belo Monte Dam. Almost all modern zebra plecos on the market are produced by amateur and professional fish breeders from descendants of the fish that were exported from Brazil during the late 20th century.
Domesticated zebra plecos prefer large aquariums in excess of 20 gallons (about 75.70 liters) that offer space for the fish to explore. A zebra pleco is most likely to thrive and breed in aquariums that have plenty of creative cover for the fish to hide under, such as caves, tubes, and aquatic plants. The ideal aquarium floor for a zebra pleco habitat is a mixture of sand and extremely fine gravel.
In the wild, the zebra pleco is a nocturnal predator that feeds primarily on larvae and small crustaceans. Feeding these fish live food in an aquarium, however, will often provoke zebra plecos to attack one another and any other fish that may be in the vicinity. Instead, fish owners typically feed zebra plecos a combination of food pellets and fresh fruit or vegetables, such as cucumbers and mangoes.
If fish owners decide to attempt to breed their zebra plecos, they will need to begin by identifying the sex of their fish. This can be particularly difficult when it comes to zebra plecos due to the spined loricariid that masks the genitalia of the fish. The easiest way to determine the sex of this fish is by examining the head of the fish from the top. A male fish has a distinct mushroom shape that is easy to recognize once an owner is familiar with the anatomy of zebra plecos. Breeding can be encouraged by introducing softer water to the tank and slightly lowering the temperature of the water.