Description
Aphanotorulus ammophilus is an armoured catfish of the subfamily Hypostominae, about 16 cm long, from Venezuela. It belongs to the group of Hypostomus and its relatives, the robust-bodied plecos with a sucker mouth that scrape the bottom, and the IUCN considers it of least concern. Very little is known about its biology and it is hardly ever seen in the trade.
The reasonable course is to treat it as a medium-sized pleco: a long tank with stones, wood and hiding places, clean, oxygenated water and calm companions.
Behavior
There are no data on its behaviour. Like most plecos, it is probably more active at dusk, spends the day hidden and may dispute its refuge with other similarly shaped bottom catfish.
It lives well with tetras, barbs and peaceful cichlids of the middle and upper levels.
Avoid housing it with other similarly shaped plecos and with territorial bottom cichlids.
Habitat
Aphanotorulus ammophilus is a fish from Venezuela. Its habitat has not been described in detail; all that is known is that it lives in tropical fresh water, near the bottom.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
Its breeding is not documented.
Diet
Probably an omnivore, like the other Hypostominae, which scrape algae, debris and biofilm from the bottom.
- Staple: sinking tablets with greens, such as blanched cucumber or courgette.
- Supplement: frozen mosquito larvae and wood to scrape.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 27–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 24–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.8 and 24 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
There is no source for this species' water: none of the accepted sources records its pH, temperature or hardness, and the profile's ranges are estimated from its congeners or species of the same genus.
Water: the profile's ranges (pH 6-7.5, 2-12 dGH and 24-28 °C) are estimated from those of other medium-sized plecos in the catalogue. Size: 16.1 cm SL in FishBase. Distribution: Venezuela. Seriously Fish only has a profile of A. emarginatus.
Litres per fish, tank sizes and lifespan: the profile's own judgement. The sources consulted do not give them.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.