WHATSTHATFISH
Log inSign up
Bony fish

Suckermouth Catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Also known as: Algae-eater, Common Pleco, Janitor Fish, Plecostomus, Spotted Pleco, Suckerfish, Sucker-mouthed Catfish, Sucking Catfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2023
Add a photo
Adult
1
@DevangshuNandi · Bangalore, India · November 20151 / 11
01

Overview

Found in coastal drainage areas and cultured in ponds for the aquarium trade.
Widespread South America, Asia

A freshwater fish often seen in the aquarium trade, often used as cleaners/algae eaters in the tank.
These fish are able to breathe air and also have suction on their lips so they can move around feeding while being stuck to an object.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
black spot
Head & Mouth
barbels

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Exact location · 3
  • Country only · 8
LIVES IN

Found in coastal drainage areas and cultured in ponds for the aquarium trade.

04

Adult photos 11

05

Discussion 1

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

1 comment

  • John Duke· 23 Mar 2018

    Armored Catfishes can attach to the tank walls only by the upper lips, so why? Is there any suction structures on the upper lips?

    Helpful· 2
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

Deep dive

Taxonomy

  1. kingdomAnimalia
  2. phylumChordata
  3. classTeleostei
  4. orderSiluriformes
  5. familyLoricariidae
  6. genusHypostomus
  7. speciesHypostomus plecostomus (Linnaeus, 1758)

SourcesWoRMSFishBase

06

More in the family

Armored Catfishes (Loricariidae)

Bristlenose Catfish

Ancistrus bufonius

1 photo

Dwarf Suckermouth

Otocinclus vittatus

1 photo

Golden Otocinclus

Otocinclus affinis

2 photos

Leopard Pleco

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

1 photo

Oto

Otocinclus macrospilus

1 photo

Parnaibae Plecostomus

Pterygoplichthys parnaibae

1 photo

Snow Pleco

Pterygoplichthys anisitsi

5 photos

Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish

Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus

2 photos

Zebra Plecostomus

Hypancistrus zebra

1 photo