Blue Eyed Pleco

The large size makes it quite a sight to see in any home aquarium, where it has been consistently included since the 1970s. Even though breeding is not seen in high numbers, this 16-inch fish is enough to make anyone take a second glance.

5 Incredible Blue Eyed Pleco Facts

• One of the main foods included in the diet of a blue eyed pleco is driftwood.
• It is genetically related to the Plecostomus catfish, which is typically kept within the same tank.
• It originally started showing up in home aquariums in the 1970s, starting in Germany. It wasn’t until a few years after these initial purchases that sales skyrocketed.
• There is no visible difference between a male and female blue eyed pleco.

Classification and Scientific Name

The scientific name for the blue eyed pleco is Panaque cochliodon, though they are sometimes called the blue eyed plec. They are from the order Siluriformes, which is in the Loricariidae family. The name “Panaque” is originally Venezuelan.

Appearance

This fish has blue eyes, which you can probably assume from the name. The rest of the body is dark grey to black, reaching an adult length of 16 inches. They have a wide body and armored scales. They typically use their mouth to stay along the ocean floor or the bottom of their tank in shallow areas.

Distribution, Population, and Habitat

Where to Find Blue Eyed Pleco and How to Catch Them

The natural habitat of the Blue Eyed Pleco is in fast-flowing freshwater areas, though it prefers the Rio Magdalena in Colombia. Even if it is kept in a tank, you need to support the body with driftwood and a strong current, making the environment more like what it experiences at home. They’ll use the driftwood as a hiding place, but they will also eat it as nourishment.

They are often bred as pets in captivity, so you should be able to find them in a local pet store. If kept in the home, the recommended tank size is 180 gallons. This tank size should be big enough to add additional fish.

Overall, the IUCN sees this fish as Near Threatened. The population is declining.

Predators and Prey

Though the blue-eyed pleco is omnivorous, it does not hunt any other animals. As an aquarium fish, you can feed it chopped shrimp, brine shrimp, chopped mussels, bloodworms, and related foods. These can be frozen or live, and they can be fed vegetables as well, including cucumber, zucchini, and peas.

What eats Blue Eyed Pleco?

The Blue Eyed Pleco has to be paired with non-aggressive fish, so it is not eaten. In the wild, it is hunted by any animal that can get through its armored scales.

What does a Blue Eyed Pleco eat?

The omnivorous Blue Eyed Pleco will eat live or dead animals, though they typically don’t consume anything bigger than mussels or shrimp. Its diet also consists of driftwood and nearby vegetation, typically scooting along the bottom floor.

Reproduction and Lifespan

Very little is known about the reproduction of the blue eyed pleco, though researchers believe they are cave spawners. As they lay their eggs, these fish prefer to find an area with fallen branches or other foliage, which will serve as food and a protective layer. Even breeding them can be difficult because it is difficult to differentiate between males and females.

Fishing and Cooking

Originally, these fish were caught near Colombia. However, the recent legal restrictions make it a crime to do so. Now, these fish are primarily available through specialty aquarium retailers and online sellers. Although their availability decreased for a period, blue eyed plecos have become more accessible again in recent years through specialty importers, though they remain rare and expensive.