Care Guides

🐟

Fish Care Guides

Detailed care information for every species we sell, based on our own experience raising these fish on the Sunshine Coast.

📊 Quick Reference — All Species

Species Min Tank Temp °C pH Max Size Difficulty
Common / Albino Bristlenose 80L 22–28 6.5–7.8 12cm 🟢 Easy
Long Fin Bristlenose 100L 22–28 6.5–7.8 12cm 🟢 Easy
Peppermint (L181) 100L 24–29 5.8–7.2 12cm 🟡 Intermediate
Blue Eye L144 80L 23–28 6.5–7.5 12cm 🟢 Easy
L333 King Tiger 120L 27–31 6.0–7.5 12cm 🟡 Intermediate
L134 Leopard Frog 120L 27–30 6.0–7.2 12cm 🟡 Intermediate
L201 Snowball 120L 26–30 6.0–7.5 15cm 🟡 Intermediate
L007 Vampire 300L 26–30 6.0–7.5 25cm 🔴 Advanced
L236 Common 120L 28–31 6.0–7.2 12cm 🟡 Intermediate
Pygmy Cory 30L 22–26 6.0–7.5 3cm 🟢 Easy
Sterbai Cory 80L 26–30 6.0–7.5 7cm 🟢 Easy
Salt & Pepper Longfin 30L 22–26 6.0–7.2 4cm 🟢 Easy
Black Venezuelan Cory 60L 22–27 6.0–7.5 6cm 🟢 Easy

🦔 Bristlenose Plecos (Common, Albino, Calico, Long Fin, Honeycomb)

Ancistrus sp. — Loricariidae family

Bristlenose plecos are the hardiest and most beginner-friendly plecos available. They stay compact at 10–15cm, graze algae relentlessly, and are peaceful with virtually all tankmates. Males develop the characteristic facial bristles the genus is named for; females typically have fewer or none.

🌊 Water Parameters

  • Temperature: 22–28°C
  • pH: 6.5–7.8
  • Hardness: Soft to hard — adaptable
  • Minimum tank: 80L (100L for long fins)

🥦 Feeding

  • Blanched zucchini and cucumber daily
  • High-quality algae wafers or sinking pellets
  • Repashy gel food (Morning Wood or Soilent Green)
  • Occasional frozen bloodworm or brine shrimp

🪵 Tank Setup

  • Driftwood is essential — adds fibre and gut bacteria
  • Caves or PVC tubes for shelter and breeding
  • Moderate flow — sponge or canister filter
  • Sand or fine gravel substrate

💕 Breeding

  • Males choose and guard a cave
  • Female lays eggs, male fans and guards them
  • Eggs hatch in 5–7 days at 26°C
  • Fry eat biofilm and algae almost immediately

💡 Long Fin tip: Avoid sharp ornaments or coarse gravel that can snag extended fins. Gentle flow is better than strong current for long fin varieties.

🫧 Peppermint Bristlenose L181

Ancistrus dolichopterus — Upper Rio Negro, Brazil

The Peppermint Bristlenose originates from the blackwater Rio Negro system and requires slightly different conditions from standard Ancistrus. Its crisp white spots on a dark body become increasingly vivid with age under optimal conditions. It is slightly more demanding but not difficult for an intermediate keeper.

🔑 Key Differences from Common Bristlenose

  • Prefers warmer water: 24–29°C (vs 22–28°C)
  • Prefers lower pH: 5.8–7.2 — slightly acidic is ideal
  • Benefits greatly from tannins — add driftwood and Indian almond leaves
  • Slightly shyer — provide more hiding spots than for Common Bristlenose
  • Otherwise, feeding and breeding requirements are identical

💛 Blue Eye L144 Bristlenose

Ancistrus sp. L144 — “Blue Eye Lemon”

The Blue Eye L144 is a selectively bred line known for its vivid golden-yellow body and striking electric-blue eyes. The blue eye colour is genetic and intensifies with age in well-conditioned fish. Care is essentially identical to Common Bristlenose — it is no harder to keep, just more spectacular to look at.

💡 Tip: The blue eye colour shows best under cooler, whiter aquarium lighting (6500K+). Warm yellow lighting can make the eyes appear duller. The Long Fin form has all the same care requirements — just add smooth décor to protect the fins.

👑 Hypancistrus Plecos L333, L134, L201, L236

Hypancistrus sp. — Rio Xingu & tributaries, Brazil

Hypancistrus are more demanding than Ancistrus but deeply rewarding. They originate from fast-flowing, warm, oxygen-rich Amazonian rivers and require these conditions to thrive. They are significantly more carnivorous than bristlenose and will not clean algae effectively.

🌡️ Critical: Warm Water

Hypancistrus must be kept at 27–31°C. Below 26°C they become lethargic, stop eating, and are prone to bacterial infections. A reliable heater and thermometer are non-negotiable.

💨 Critical: High Oxygenation

These fish come from fast rivers and need strong flow and surface agitation. A canister filter with spray bar or additional powerheads are ideal. They will suffer in stagnant tanks.

🥩 Carnivore Diet

  • Frozen bloodworm 3× per week
  • Frozen brine shrimp or daphnia
  • High-protein sinking carnivore pellets
  • Small amount of veg (zucchini) once a week

🏠 Tank & Breeding

  • 120L minimum, 200L+ for colonies
  • Many small tight caves (PVC elbows work well)
  • Sand substrate with smooth rocks
  • Patience — breeding takes 2+ years to establish

🧛 L007 Vampire Pleco

Leporacanthicus galaxias — Colombia & Venezuela

The Vampire Pleco is a large, impressive species that grows to ~25cm. It is not a member of Hypancistrus but of the genus Leporacanthicus — characterised by its fang-like teeth used to extract invertebrates from rock. A true specimen fish for a large display aquarium.

⚠️ Important Notes

  • 300L+ required for adults — this is a large fish that needs space
  • One per tank — adults are territorial with each other
  • Primarily carnivorous — prawns, mussels, squid, carnivore pellets. Does not eat algae meaningfully
  • Strong filtration essential — messy eater, produces significant waste
  • Generally peaceful with unrelated species of similar or larger size
  • Our stock are sub-adults (~2 years old) — past the most delicate juvenile stage

🐠 Corydoras Catfish All species

Corydoras sp. — South America

Corydoras are peaceful, sociable schooling catfish that spend most of their time foraging along the substrate. They are completely peaceful and make ideal tankmates for most community fish. All species share the same core care requirements with a few species-specific notes below.

📏 Groups & Social Behaviour

Always keep in groups of 6 or more. Lone or paired corys are stressed, hide constantly, and are prone to illness. Groups of 10+ display the most natural, active behaviour including shoaling and foraging together.

🏖️ Substrate — Critical

Corydoras constantly sift through substrate with sensitive barbels. Coarse gravel damages these barbels, causing them to erode and making the fish susceptible to bacterial infections. Use fine sand — pool filter sand works perfectly and is inexpensive.

🥗 Feeding

  • Sinking pellets or wafers (must reach the bottom)
  • Frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia
  • Repashy gel food placed on the substrate
  • Feed after lights out — they are most active then

🌡️ Species Notes

  • Sterbai: Keep at 26–30°C — ideal with discus
  • Pygmy: Swims mid-water, not just the bottom
  • Salt & Pepper: Tiny (4cm) — perfect for nano tanks
  • Black Venezuelan: Striking all-black, same care as common corys

Have a question not covered here?

📧 Email Us
❓ View FAQ