Description
The galaxy plec (L029), also sold as the vampire or tusken plec, is a loricariid of about 25 cm from the rapids and fast-flowing waters of several Brazilian basins, including the Amazon and Tocantins. It has an unmistakable look, with pale spots on a dark ground and long teeth.
Four similar undescribed variants, L007, L240, L241 and L294, are better called by their numbers. It is territorial: it needs a tank of at least 120 cm.
Behavior
Generally peaceful with fish from other parts of the tank, but territorial towards other bottom catfish, especially those with a similar pattern.
It lives well with large open-water characins and, in very large tanks, other rapids loricariids.
Avoid housing it with other bottom fish of similar appearance; a group needs an enormous tank.
Habitat
Leporacanthicus galaxias is a reophilic species of rapids and fast-flowing water in several Brazilian basins.
In the aquarium it asks for strong current, plenty of oxygen, rocks and caves, and a long tank.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
It has been bred in the hobby, but no details are available. In nature it spawns in deep holes in river banks during the wet season.
Diet
An omnivore with a taste for animal-based food.
- Staple: large sinking tablets or pellets.
- Supplement: frozen shrimp, mussel or mosquito larvae, and some plant matter.
Food should be spread so that it reaches this fish as well as the others.
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 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 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 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 25–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–6.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 26 °C. They only meet at the very edge, so the tank has to hold that value.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–6.5 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °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 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–6.5 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 22–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
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They share water: pH 7–7.2 and 22–26 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Leporacanthicus galaxias. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6.2-7.2 and 22-25 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5.6-7 and 22-26 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Hardness, 0-10 dGH, comes from Seriously Fish: FishBase does not record it. Size: 21.1 cm SL in FishBase and 25 cm SL in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.