Description
Hypancistrus contradens is a pleco from the Orinoco, in Venezuela, of the genus of small cave-dwelling plecos of fast water, which the IUCN considers Near Threatened. neither its size nor its water conditions are known, and it is rare in the trade.
Hypancistrus are kept in tanks with current, clean water and plenty of rock or ceramic caves, and prefer protein-rich food.
Behavior
Like other cave plecos, each fish can be expected to defend its refuge and males to dispute caves. One cave per fish should be offered, in a tank with current, with calm companions.
It lives well with tetras and other peaceful fish of clean, flowing water.
Avoid housing it with other cave plecos, which would dispute its refuge, and with territorial cichlids.
Habitat
Hypancistrus contradens lives in the Orinoco River, in Venezuela. Its habitat has not been described in detail; all that is known is that it inhabits tropical fresh water near the bottom.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
Its breeding is not documented. Hypancistrus usually breed inside caves, where the male guards the clutch.
Diet
An omnivore leaning to meaty food, like other Hypancistrus.
- Staple: protein-rich sinking tablets.
- Supplement: frozen mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and mysis.
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 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–30 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 27–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26 °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 26 °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 26 °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 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26 °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 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–29 °C.
They share water: pH 6–6.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
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 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–29 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 26–30 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–30 °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 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5 and 27–30 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26 °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 26 °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 26 °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 26 °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 26 °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 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.5 and 26–28 °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, 2-10 dGH and 26-30 °C) are estimated from those of other small plecos of caves and fast water in the catalogue. Size: FishBase does not record it, so the profile gives no figure and the tank sizes are those of a small pleco. Status: the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened since 2019.
Litres per fish, tank sizes and lifespan: the profile's own judgement. The sources consulted do not give them.
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