L333 “albino” king tiger pleco

The Albino King Tiger Pleco (Hypancistrus sp. L333), a captivating variant of the popular King Tiger Pleco, is a prized addition to the freshwater aquarium hobby. While its appearance may seem exotic, its care is straightforward for the intermediate aquarist.

Natural Habitat and Origins

Native to the fast-flowing, warm, and oxygen-rich waters of the Rio Xingu in Brazil, the King Tiger Pleco, including its albino form, thrives in environments with plenty of rocky crevices and caves. These areas provide shelter and breeding grounds. Understanding their natural habitat is key to replicating a suitable environment in a home aquarium.

Aquarium Setup and Requirements

Tank Size: A minimum of a 30-gallon long aquarium is recommended for a single Albino King Tiger Pleco. For a pair or a small group, a 40-gallon or larger tank is preferable to provide ample territory and reduce potential aggression between males

Water parameters-

• Temperature: 78°F to 86°F (25°C to 30°C). A consistent, warmer temperature is essential.

• pH: 6.5 to 7.5. Stability is more important than a specific value within this range.

• Hardness: Soft to moderately hard water is suitable.

• Water Flow: Moderate to strong water movement is highly recommended to mimic their natural riverine habitat and ensure high levels of oxygenation. This can be achieved through the use of canister filters, powerheads, or wavemakers.

Filtration: A robust filtration system is necessary as these fish can be sensitive to poor water quality. A canister filter is an excellent choice as it provides strong mechanical and biological filtration. Regular weekly water changes of 25-50% are essential to keep nitrate levels low.

Substrate and Decor: A fine sand or smooth gravel substrate is ideal to prevent scratching their delicate undersides. The aquarium should be aquascaped with plenty of hiding places such as driftwood, caves, and rockwork. Slate caves are a popular and effective choice for providing secure retreats. Live plants can be included, as L333s are not known to be destructive towards them.

Diet and Feeding

 Albino King Tiger Plecos are primarily carnivores, a departure from the typical herbivorous nature of many other pleco species. A varied diet is key to their well-being.

• Primary Diet: High-quality sinking carnivore pellets or wafers should form the staple of their diet.

• Meaty Foods: Supplement their diet with frozen or live foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp, and daphnia.

• Vegetable Matter: While primarily carnivorous, they will also benefit from occasional offerings of blanched vegetables like zucchini, cucumber, and shelled peas.

• Driftwood: While not a primary food source like for some Panaque species, having driftwood in the tank allows them to graze on the biofilm that develops on its surface.

It is best to feed them in the evening or when the aquarium lights are dimmed, as they are nocturnal and more likely to be active and foraging for food at this time.

Temperament and Tank Mates 

The Albino King Tiger Pleco is a generally peaceful and reclusive fish, making it a suitable candidate for a community aquarium with the right tank mates.

• Compatibility: They can be kept with a variety of peaceful, similarly-sized fish that thrive in the same warm water conditions. Good tank mates include tetras, rasboras, celestial pearl danios, and Corydoras catfish.

• Conspecifics: Males can be territorial with other males of the same species, so providing numerous hiding spots is crucial if keeping a group. It is often recommended to keep a single male or a male with several females.