All fish / Loricariidae

Ford's Pleco

Pseudacanthicus fordii

Also known as ford's pleco, fordi pleco, l338, l 338, l338b, pseudacanthicus fordi, guyana cactus pleco, fordii pleco, プセウダカンシクス・フォルディ, 福氏仙人掌异型

This is a fairly small cactus pleco from the Guiana Shield, with rough, spiny body armour that is grey brown to dark brown and a high dorsal fin. Unlike many plecos it eats mostly meaty food, and enthusiasts keep it because it is uncommon in the trade and has a striking prehistoric look.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

18 cm

Temperature

25 to 30 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

250 litres

Keep as

Keep one per tank unless the tank is large with plenty of caves

Diet

Carnivore: sinking pellets, mussel, prawn, bloodworm and other meaty foods, plus some vegetable matter

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

10 to 15 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Guyana and Suriname (Essequibo and nearby Guiana Shield rivers)

Breeding

Males guard eggs inside a cave, as other Pseudacanthicus species do. Captive spawnings are rare and not well recorded, so most fish on sale have been wild caught.

Good to know

Adults defend their territory and will fight other plecos and bottom dwellers, so give each fish its own cave. Its odontodes catch easily in nets, and the species is often confused with other dark Pseudacanthicus L-numbers.