Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is a species of armored catfish native to Brazil, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela where it is found in the Orinoco and Amazon basins.

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps shows all the characteristic features of its genus—a large dorsal fin with more than nine rays, prominent nasal flares and a prominent hump or crest anterior to the dorsal fin as well as a substantial base to the dorsal fin. Adult fish easily attain a length of 50 centimetres (20 in) TL and can live for more than 20 years.

A typical plec shape is shown, patternation consists of primarily irregular largish brown spots on a yellowish background giving a honeycombed like appearance, additional pattern features common to related species may be visible on close inspection. As this fish grows the spots get smaller.

Like most plecs this species is primarily herbivorous though will eat dead animals.

In the wild these fish are found in shoals in sluggish rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco river systems, they also occupy flooded land during the wet season. During the dry season P. gibbiceps will aestivate in burrows around 1-metre (3 ft 3 in) long dug into mud banks along the length of a river, egg rearing is also presumed to take place in burrow.

The species name comes from the Latin gibbus—hump, and caput—head, a reference to the centrally located ridge. Common names include 'gibbys', leopard sailfin catfish and clown plecs—the juveniles have a comical appearance due to the large and obvious spots.

Ancistrus gibbiceps and Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps are synonyms of P. gibbiceps.

The fish has recently been caught from river Ganges, Banaras and is suspected to be yet another entrant to Invasive exotic list of fish in India.

Behaviour

Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is an omnivore. They can be fed with vegetables such as nettles, lettuce, spinach or carrots. Their diet can include meat; such as earthworms, blood worms or chopped shrimps. They will also eat prepared foods from a pet shop, especially sinking algae wafers. The best way to breed Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps is to feed them with wide spectrum of food. With a good diet, they will grow quickly (up to 30 centimetres in one year). Adult Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps may eat many aquarium plants.