Orinoco Angel Pleco (L201)

The Orinoco angel is a small Hypancistrus that, because of its white spots on a black background, is also sold in the hobby as the "snowball" pleco. Spot size varies from fish to fish; large-spotted ones are separated in the trade as "L201a".

Its identity is not fully settled: it was first thought to be H. inspector, and has also been linked to H. contradens, described from the Orinoco in 2007. The true snowball pleco (H. inspector, L102) grows larger and has a dark band along the fin edges. Captive-bred L201s are common and much easier to find than the zebra pleco.

It lives in fast-flowing, rocky stretches of the upper Orinoco basin. The water is warm, soft, slightly acidic and rich in oxygen; the fish spend the day in rock crevices. Most fish in the trade today are captive-bred, which reduces pressure on wild populations.

• Volume: at least 120 liters for a small group.
• Caves: a cave for each fish; clay tubes, rock crevices, spaces under roots.
• Flow and oxygen: an additional powerhead and aeration.
• Water: 26–28°C; soft water is preferred, but it also adapts to moderately hard water. A 30% water change every week.

An omnivore leaning toward a carnivorous diet. Make bloodworms, mysis, brine shrimp, pieces of shrimp and protein-rich sinking granules the staple; it also accepts vegetable tablets. It is not an algae cleaner.

Peaceful and nocturnal. Males stand up to each other over caves but usually settle for brief chases. It leaves other species alone.

Good companions: Calm species that like warm water: cardinal tetras, rummy-nose tetras, dwarf cichlids, sterbai corydoras, discus.

Avoid: Other Hypancistrus species (hybridization), large territorial plecos, aggressive cichlids.

It can be kept singly; it becomes bolder in a group of 3–5. There should be more caves than males. For breeding, 2 females per male are recommended. Females get along with each other; problems usually arise between males when there are too few caves.

Bred regularly in the aquarium. The male cleans out a cave and the female lays her large eggs there; the male guards the eggs and fry. Soft water and high oxygen make breeding easier.

Hardy, but low oxygen and nitrate buildup lead to loss of appetite and bacterial problems. Avoid copper-based medications. It is normal for new arrivals to hide and eat little in the first days; however, if the belly line starts to look sunken, feed later in the evening and closer to the cave.

Males have broader heads and longer pectoral fin spines and cheek odontodes. Females are wider around the belly when viewed from above.