This species is often confused with P. reticulata, P. humerosa and P. scobina. Such specimens are usually imported and sold as "teacup" stingrays and it is important to correctly identify what you are buying. There is also a ray sold as P. sp. "Nazca" that is often said to be P. yepezi; unlikely given that it is imported from Peru. This latter fish is one of the commonest rays seen in the trade and is usually quite reasonably priced, making it a good choice for newcomers to k…

P. schroederi is one of the most attractive and sought after members of the family. Due to current export restrictions in Brazil it has become very scarce in the hobby and commands a high price when it is available, usually from captive breeders. There is another fish sold under the name "flower ray", presumably to boost sales. This is a potentially undescribed species imported from Peru and is usually referred to as "Peru flower" or P40 by ray enthusiasts. Some believe this …

This is one of the commoner "otos" seen in the hobby, and is an ideal species for the planted aquarium. Unfortunately it can be quite delicate when first imported, and losses are not uncommon. This is usually down to lack of food, as it's a small fish and needs to feed almost constantly, so it's easily starved during transportation. As almost all otos are wild caught, they can be quite sensitive to water quality, too. Many hobbyists report fewer problems if the fish are added…

This stunning miniature Loricariid has only been available in the hobby since 2001, and was described to science in 2004. As with other otos, it can be a little delicate when first imported and should be quarantined carefully until it's settled.

This species was formerly considered to be represented by the L-numbers L113 and L234 but it appears that only the former is native to the Paraná, Paraguay and Uruguay drainages, whereas L234 is collected in the rio São Francisco in eastern Brazil.

M. barrae and M. sp. ‘LDA097’ are also exported from the São Francisco system.

The pictures here show the fish that is most commonly referred to as L. simillima, but there is a great deal of uncertainty surrounding its true identity. As suggested above, it seems unlikely that its natural distribution is so wide, and we are probably dealing with several species or subspecies. This argument is strengthened by the fact that several differently coloured fish are imported as this species, with darker specimens being collected from acidic blackwaters and lighter fish hailing fro…

There are a few different colour forms of this lovely suckermouth available, each of which possess varying amounts of orange patterning in the fins. Some of these are given extravagant sounding names such as "dragon fin" or "tiger fin". What's nice about this species, is that these flashes of colour don't fade with age, as with many of its relatives, making for a striking fish when fully grown.

Leporacanthicus species are commonly referred to as "vampire ple…

Leporacanthicus species are commonly referred to as "vampire plecs". This is derived from the unique upper jaw dentition exhibited by members of this genus, unsurprisingly consisting of two large teeth or "fangs". The exact use for these is unknown, but they're probably utilised to grip prey items such as snails or other aquatic invertebrates in some way. Another feature shared by all Leporacanthicus is a small bony growth of unknown use on top of the head. This particul…

The vampire part of the common name is derived from the unique upper jaw dentition exhibited by members of this genus, consisting of, you guessed it, two large teeth or "fangs". The exact use for these is unknown, but they're probably utilised to grip prey items such as snails or other aquatic invertebrates in some way. When buying one of these (or any Loricariid), be sure to check the fish has a rounded belly and that its eyes aren't sunken, as these are classic signs of ema…

A very stylish looking plec, L. galaxias can also be seen for sale as the vampire or tusken plec. Both these names relate to features of morphology that are shared by all members of the genus. The latter arose from the presence of a characteristic growth on the head of the fish. The vampire moniker, meanwhile, is derived from the unique upper jaw dentition, consisting of, you guessed it, two large teeth or "fangs". The exact use for these is unknown, but they're probably utilised …