The L128 blue phantom pleco is a freshwater fish from South America, specifically in the Rio Orinoco in Venezuela and Columbia. These armored fish with suckers are considered a type of catfish.
Their dark coloring and lighter iridescent spots give them a striking blue color, making them an attractive addition to aquariums. They do well in medium to large-sized community tanks and are good fish for intermediate hobbyists.
This fish is an omnivore that will feed on the algae in your tank but will also need additional food in the form of sinking pellets. Plecos are sensitive to poor water conditions, and because of this, you’ll need to be vigilant with your water changes.
Blue phantom plecos are not schooling fish and will not enjoy being housed with other plecos or scavengers competing for the same resources. Instead, keep a single pleco to enjoy your tank.
Distinguishing Features
Plecos come in a variety of colors and patterns, all of which make them appealing to hobbyists.
The blue phantom pleco’s most distinguishing feature is its unique coloring.
They’re darker blue fish with lighter iridescent spots that give them a ghostly sheen. This coloring gives them a striking appearance, setting them apart from other plecos.
Blue phantom plecos originating in the northern portion of the Orinoco River have a darker body than those in the southern, which have been reported to be lighter overall.
They have upright dorsal fins and solid abdominal and pectoral fins that allow them to maneuver rocky substrate. The blue phantom pleco lacks scales and instead has armored plating for protection.
As omnivores, their flat heads and sucker mouths help them root in riverbeds and scavenge for food.
Origins
The blue phantom pleco originates in the Orinoco River that runs through Columbia and Venezuela. This river is freshwater, fast-moving, and warm. It’s considered one of the world’s largest rivers and one of the longest in South America.
The Orinoco cuts through rainforests, grasslands, and a large delta, eventually ending at the Atlantic Ocean.
There are two seasons in the basin through which the Orinoco River flows: winter and summer. During colder months, the area sees more rain and the water levels in the river rise.
The river remains a relatively pristine ecosystem with over 1,000 species of fish, not to mention other wildlife. Urbanization in some locations, as well as mining efforts around the river, does threaten to pollute it.
Tumultuous waters and high oxygen content mean that the blue phantom pleco thrives in these conditions, directly contributing to their being more sensitive to water parameters than other fish. You’ll have to keep these conditions in mind when planning your tank.
Size
The average juvenile blue phantom pleco is approximately 3-5 inches long. At maturity, the maximum length of this fish is about 7 inches.
They can be considered rapid growers and may grow about half an inch yearly. Your blue phantom pleco will take several years to reach full size.
Lifespan
In the wild, this fish has a much shorter lifespan because of predators and the unpredictable elements of nature.
If the blue phantom pleco is well taken care of (this means frequent significant water changes), the species is durable and healthy and can live up to ten years in captivity. Some individuals can live even longer than that.
You should understand that this extended lifespan is with tank conditions being kept ideal for the length of the pleco’s life. A blue phantom pleco may only live 5 to 7 years in less ideal conditions.
Genders
The female blue phantom pleco is a rounder body shape, and its abdomen appears longer from the side.
When observing the males of this species, its body is longer and more streamlined.
Temperament
The blue phantom pleco is a peaceful fish to add to your aquarium, maintaining a calm demeanor.
They are a more solitary species, meaning they’re more likely to give the other freshwater fish in your tank plenty of space. They’re known for getting along well with other fish of the same size or smaller.
They’re more active in the evening and may be more comfortable if you give them places to rest during the day. They’re a faster swimmer and enjoy exploring the bottom of the tank when out in the open.
Plenty of space for the blue phantom pleco to enjoy is crucial to its overall happiness.
Unfortunately, they often view other plecos as competition for territory and will act aggressively. Because of this, it’s unwise to have more than one in your tank at any given time.
They may also act belligerently to other bottom-dwelling scavenger fish because they’ll view their presence as infringing upon their territory.
Tank Parameters
This tropical freshwater fish will benefit significantly from a large tank with plenty of swimming space and terrain to explore. The blue phantom pleco is an active swimmer who enjoys spending time searching for food at the bottom of the tank.
Minimum Tank Size
You’ll see different recommendations for tank size when it comes to plecos, with some suggesting a tank as small as 10 gallons is sufficient.
That’s false; such a small space will likely result in an unhappy pleco. These small bottom-dwelling fish require plenty of room to explore, swim, and occasionally hideaway.
To keep a blue phantom pleco happy and healthy, we recommend that your minimum tank size be at least 50 gallons.
Anything smaller, and you risk running into issues with water circulation and water conditions that could lead to parasites, bacteria, and other ailments. These issues in your tank can be disastrous for your fish population and deadly for your pleco.
Water Parameters
The blue phantom pleco is a tropical fish that lives in a fast-moving river when in the wild. You’ll want a large tank with good water circulation and plenty of changes to help maintain the healthy environment they’d typically experience.
This fish will appreciate being in a tank incorporating a stream-like current similar to what it would experience in the wild.
Temperature
This fish comes from an environment where the temperature is reasonably warm, even during cooler months. You should strive to keep your tank between 70 and 77°F to keep your blue phantom pleco comfortable.
Since temperatures that are either too high or too low can be unhealthy for your pleco, it can be helpful to invest in a tank thermometer so that you can keep track of how warm the water is.
Numerous tank heaters are available that will allow you to set them to your desired temperature and maintain that temperature.
pH
The blue phantom pleco prefers less alkaline water, so a pH of 6.0 to 7.0 is best.
Salinity
The blue phantom pleco is a freshwater fish and does not require salinity to get added to its tank. Salt can harm your pleco, and you should avoid it entirely.
Tank Setup
How you set your tank up can significantly impact the health and well-being of your blue phantom pleco. In many instances, a shortened lifespan can be directly attributed to tank conditions.
A pleco that doesn’t have a comfortable environment and can’t engage in its natural behaviors will be prone to depression and possibly bullying by other tankmates.
The blue phantom pleco spends significant time at the bottom of the tank, rooting in the substrate and swimming through its environment. It also occasionally needs a place to rest, especially during the day because it’s nocturnal.
Be careful to balance your plants, decorations, and clear spaces. If there’s not enough open space for your pleco to explore, they can become hostile and territorial to other fish in the tank.
Substrate
The blue phantom pleco will spend a lot of time at the bottom of the tank or on the sides. A fine gravel or sand substrate is best in these circumstances because it allows them to interact with the bottom of the tank without damaging their fins or undersides.
Decorations
The pleco will appreciate places where it can rest, such as driftwood and rocks. Caves and alcoves should get provided so that the pleco can have a place to relax and retreat if it needs to.
Plants
When choosing the appropriate plant for your blue phantom pleco, you’ll want one that can provide adequate shelter and resist your fish’s desire to root.
The pleco spends much of its time searching for food at the bottom of the tank. It will also root in the sand and gravel that makes up the substrate.
The Anubis Nana is a slow-growing aquarium plant with a robust root system and large leaves that provide plenty of cover. The Amazon Sword is similar because the root system is robust, but the foliage grows more densely and provides more cover.
Lighting
The blue phantom pleco naturally lives in an environment where there isn’t an abundance of light. But you can safely use medium lighting for your aquarium to get the best of their coloration.
Filtration
The blue phantom pleco is sensitive to poor water quality levels. In addition to carrying out regular water changes, you’ll want to invest in a premium water filtration system.
Because this pleco originates in waters with high oxygen levels, you’ll want to ensure similar conditions for your tank. You can achieve this with a bubbling device to deliver extra oxygen to your tank’s water.
Heating
The waters of the Orionico River are warm, and the environment that the blue phantom pleco comes from is considered tropical.
You’ll want to include a heating device that will raise the temperature of your water and maintain it at a set level so that your pleco is consistently comfortable.
A temperature between 70 to 77 Fahrenheit should be sufficiently warm for your pleco.
Diet
The blue phantom pleco is an omnivore. An omnivore will eat both meat and vegetables. In the wild, this fish would eat algae, decaying plant matter, crustaceans, insects, and potentially other small fish.
However, this diet must get supplemented when living in a tank environment. Depending on how much algae grows in your tank, the amount you feed them to support their feeding habits may vary.
Feeding them roughly three times a week should be sufficient, but you’ll want to observe their behavior and bodies to decide what’s best for your pleco.
They’re also more active in the evening, so you should wait until they become active later in the day before feeding them.
Most of your feeding should be done with sinking pellets or wafer foods formulated to meet their nutritional needs for the best results. You can adjust your pleco’s diet to mimic its natural environment.
When feeding your pleco a meat-based diet, you can introduce items like bloodworms, shrimp, and daphnia to their meals.
Alternating to a vegetable-based diet opens you up to a wide variety of options, as they’re happy to eat most leafy greens in addition to the tank’s algae. Spinach is a great supplement that’s high in nutrients for your pleco.
Remember that your blue phantom pleco is a scavenger at heart and will dig through the tank’s substrate to eat any leftover food from other fish.
Breeding
Breeding in captivity has proven to be difficult for the blue phantom pleco. Many of these fish are wild-caught and brought to stores, so they’re largely unfamiliar with breeding in a tank environment.
Some have had success with hormone treatments to encourage breeding, but this isn’t something the average hobbyist can access.
When attempting to breed your plecos, there are a few key things to remember regardless of difficulty.
The first is that plecos can become territorial. You’ll need to take care and ensure that you’re only introducing one male into the tank and that the rest are females.
The next is to ensure a cool spot in your tank for the females to rest as they grow their eggs. They’ll also need a safe space to lay their eggs when it’s time and often prefer cave-like environments.
Females will appear more bloated and round shortly after becoming pregnant; they’ll also become reclusive and seek places to rest while eggs develop.
Males can become territorial of the eggs after they’ve been laid and guard them against potential dangers until the spawn has absorbed the yolk.
Common Diseases
Like many tropical freshwater fish, the blue phantom pleco is suspectable to diseases such as Dropsy, Ich, and Fin rot. They also suffer from fungal infections if tank conditions are not ideal.
Dropsy
Dropsy can cause an enlarged abdomen, lethargy, and protruding scales. The cause is usually infection by bacteria or even kidney failure. If left untreated, this can be fatal in fish.
Ich
Ich is a parasite that’s very common in tropical fish. White spots will develop over your pleco’s body, and they’ll engage in strange behavior, such as rubbing against rocks or hiding.
Adding copper sulfate to the water can help with treatment at certain stages, but it can be difficult to rid from your aquarium.
Fin Rot
Fin rot can be spotted by jagged edges appearing on the tails or fins of your tropical fish. These rough edges can lead to receding fins and decreased balance and mobility.
You can treat this ailment with antibiotics.
Treatment
Blue phantom plecos are more sensitive to poor tank conditions than other types of fish and will require frequent significant water changes to avoid becoming infected with various ailments.
If you spot any of these diseases in your fish, you’ll need to immediately do a water change in the tank and begin medications.
Most over-the-counter antibiotics and antifungals are suitable for the pleco, but having an aquatic veterinarian look over your plecos is in your best interest. This route will result in having the proper diagnosis more quickly and reduce the risks of misdiagnosing yourself.
Further, you’ll want to separate sick fish from healthy fish to prevent the disease from spreading to other fish in the tank.
In addition to poor water conditions, tank overcrowding can cause serious medical ailments in your plecos and other fish in the tank. Overcrowding can lead to polluted water and stressed fish from having others too close.
Potential Tank Mates
Blue phantom plecos are overall peaceful in nature, though they can become aggressive if housed with other plecos that they may view as competition for their territory.
Keeping just one blue phantom per tank is best unless you are considering breeding your plecos.
It’s also advisable to avoid housing them with other scavenger-type fish unless there’s adequate space. They may view them as competition for resources as well.
Instead, consider placing them with schooling fish that have a peaceful temperament. They’ll be able to co-exist peacefully, as they’ll spend their time at the bottom portion of your tank while the others will swim above.
They do well with fish of a similar size and are not known for being overly aggressive. It is recommended that you provide places or your pleco to retreat so that they can spend time away from other fish.