L142 Baryancistrus sp. tocantins snow ball - Catfish for Sale UK

The L142 Tocantins Snow Ball Pleco (Baryancistrus sp.) takes its evocative trade name from the pale, snowball-like spotting that scatters across its body and from the Tocantins river system it is associated with. It is a handsome, medium-sized L-number catfish, reaching around 12 cm and potentially living a decade, that rewards the experienced aquarist able to meet its exacting needs.

Like its Baryancistrus relatives, it is a difficult-care species that depends on warm, fast-flowing, oxygen-saturated water. Recreate that with strong circulation, efficient filtration and a hardscape of smooth stones and driftwood it can graze and shelter beneath. Hold the temperature across a broad 24-30°C range, keep the pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and aim for soft to moderate hardness of 1-12 dGH in a mature tank of at least 250 litres.

Its diet is principally herbivorous, with algae and biofilm forming the staples that it grazes as a bottom-dweller, topped up with a little supplemental protein to keep it healthy and growing steadily. For all its specialist demands, it is a peaceful fish that causes no trouble for its neighbours. It grazes steadily across the substrate throughout the day, so a mature tank with established biofilm, smooth surfaces and brisk, oxygen-rich flow keeps it in the best condition, and a slow, careful acclimatisation helps it settle into its new home. Given its long potential lifespan and specialist requirements, it is a fish to plan a system around rather than add as an afterthought, and it repays that effort with years of quiet, characterful presence at the bottom of the tank.

Care snapshot

• Adult size: up to around 12 cm
• Lifespan: up to 10 years
• Care level: difficult
• Temperament: peaceful
• Temperature: 24-30°C
• pH: 6.0-7.5
• Hardness: 1-12 dGH
• Minimum tank: 250 litres
• Diet: primarily herbivore / algivore with supplemental protein
• Swimming zone: bottom

Compatibility and delivery

This catfish settles happily alongside peaceful midwater fish, small to medium tetras, rasboras and other peaceful loricariids given adequate space. Avoid aggressive cichlids, large predatory fish, fin-nipping species, highly territorial bottom-dwellers and pushy feeders that would muscle it off its food. Each L142 Snow Ball Pleco is dispatched with a licensed live-animal courier and protected by our live arrival guarantee.