All fish / Loricariidae

Bach's Peckoltia

Peckoltia bachi

Also known as peckoltichthys bachi, peckoltia bachi, bach's pleco, l-number peckoltia, peruvian peckoltia, bach's peckoltia, ペコルチア・バキ

No free-to-use photo of this fish yet. Took one yourself? Send it to us and we will credit you.

This is a small suckermouth catfish from the upper Amazon. It has a brown body with darker blotches or bands and an armoured, flattened shape. Keepers like it because it stays small, does not wreck plants and has the typical charm of a pleco.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

12 cm

Temperature

24 to 29 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

100 litres

Keep as

Single or a group with plenty of caves; males defend territories

Diet

Omnivore: sinking pellets and wafers, blanched vegetables, bloodworm and other frozen foods

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Amazon basin in Peru, Brazil and Colombia (Ucayali, Marañón, Juruá and Solimões systems)

Breeding

Like other Peckoltia it spawns in caves, and the male guards the eggs and wrigglers until they become free-swimming. Captive spawning has rarely been reported, so it is seen as difficult.

Good to know

It needs clean, well-oxygenated water with some current, plus driftwood and caves. You will rarely find it under this exact name, and other brown Peckoltia species are easily mistaken for it.