Albino Common Pleco Hypostomus Plectostomus 5cm
Image for illustration purposes only. Exact colours, patterns, and size may vary between individuals.
Delivered alive, guaranteed
Live fish delivery is £20 per order, delivered Thursday, Friday or Saturday, arriving before 1:00pm on the day you choose at checkout. Packed by aquatic specialists and shipped overnight with a dedicated livestock courier, every fish is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with automatic refunds. See How Live Fish Delivery Works for full details.
When will my fish arrive?
| Order placed | Delivery day |
|---|---|
| Up to Monday 11:00am | Thursday (that week) |
| Monday after 11:00am – Tuesday 11:00am | Friday (that week) |
| Tuesday after 11:00am – Wednesday 11:00am | Saturday (that week) |
| Wednesday after 11:00am – Sunday (any time) | Thursday (following week) |
Overview
The Albino Common Pleco is a creamy yellow-white armoured catfish with pink eyes and the same tall sail-like dorsal fin as the standard form. A suckermouth grazer from the Amazon basin, it scrapes algae from every surface. It only suits keepers with a very large tank or indoor pond, as it grows huge.
- Adult Size: Around 40–50 cm (16–20 in) in aquaria
- Lifespan: 15–20 years
Origin
- Native to: Amazon basin, Brazil and Peru
- Habitat: Slow rivers, floodplain lakes and muddy backwaters
Feeding
- Diet: Omnivorous, mostly herbivorous grazer
- Preferred Foods: Algae wafers, courgette, cucumber, spinach, sinking pellets, occasional bloodworm
- Feeding Habits: Feed after lights out nightly; algae alone is never enough
Tank Mates
- Best with: Large robust fish: big cichlids, silver dollars, large barbs, bichirs
- Avoid: Small fish, other large plecos, slow flat-bodied fish it may rasp
Aggression & Behaviour
- Temperament: Peaceful with mid-water fish
- Territoriality: Intolerant of other large plecos and bottom dwellers as it matures
Experience Level
- Difficulty: Intermediate, due to size
- Challenges: Enormous adult size, heavy waste load, uproots plants
Water Parameters
- Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
- Temperature: 23–28°C (73–82°F)
- pH: 6.5–7.5
- Hardness: 5–20 dGH
- Flow: Moderate, with strong filtration
- Tank Size: Minimum 450 litres for an adult; 1000 litres or a large indoor pond is better
Final Notes
The 5 cm juvenile grows fast and within two years will outgrow most home aquaria, so only buy with a very large tank or indoor pond planned. Fish sold under this name are usually Pterygoplichthys pardalis rather than true Hypostomus. It is nocturnal, needs a driftwood cave, produces huge amounts of waste and will bulldoze plants and decor. Given the space, it becomes a hardy, characterful centrepiece that can live for decades.
Please Note
The livestock that is sold on our online site is not held in store at our Birchwood Aquatic Centre shop. Species sold at the Birchwood Aquatic Centre physical store may differ from ones available to order to your door.
Frequently Asked Questions
In insulated boxes designed for live transport, packed by aquatic specialists,
overnight with a licensed live-animal courier, arriving before 1pm.
It is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee.
Photograph it within 4 hours of delivery, email info@birchwoodaquaticcentre.co.uk with your order number, and the refund is processed automatically. The cover continues for 7 days after arrival.
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You pick your day at checkout; please choose a day someone is home.
Yes. One basket, one checkout; the fish arrive with the specialist courier and the rest of your order ships as normal.
We can deliver to UK mainland only for live fish.
Follow the five-minute acclimatisation steps in our When Your Fish Arrive guide: float the bags, add tank water gradually, net the fish in, lights low, feed tomorrow.