Antenna Pleco Care Guide - Aquarium Setup, Diet & Breeding

Antenna Plecos are unusual loricariid catfish with a slender, elongated body and a long, tapering snout that gives them their common name. Their brown, olive and mottled markings help them blend into submerged branches, roots and leaf litter, while their armoured plates provide protection without making them look bulky like many larger plecos.

These fish spend much of their time attached to wood, rocks and other solid surfaces with their sucker-shaped mouths. They are generally peaceful and deliberate in their movements, often remaining motionless for long periods before gliding to a new feeding site. Their cryptic appearance can make them easy to overlook until they begin exploring the aquarium after dark or in subdued lighting.

In the wild, Antenna Plecos are associated with flowing water and timber-rich river margins. Their flattened profile and specialised mouth are suited to scraping biofilm, algae and other organic growth from submerged surfaces, while their flexible bodies allow them to manoeuvre around branches and vegetation.

Pterosturisoma microps is an uncommon and specialised aquarium catfish rather than a typical algae-eating community pleco. It is valued by experienced keepers for its distinctive shape, peaceful temperament and natural-looking behaviour, although imported specimens may be sensitive after transport and can require careful acclimation.

Antenna Plecos are native to northern South America, particularly Colombia and river systems associated with the Magdalena basin. They inhabit freshwater streams and rivers with flowing, oxygen-rich water, submerged wood and surfaces covered in algae and aufwuchs.

A single adult should have at least 300 litres, with a footprint of around 150 by 50 cm and strong, well-oxygenated circulation. Use smooth sand or fine rounded gravel, substantial driftwood, shaded retreats and broad surfaces for grazing, while leaving open flow channels through the layout. Robust plants can be used around the edges, but wood, caves and secure hiding places are especially important. Efficient filtration, stable water quality and regular maintenance are essential for this sensitive riverine species.

Up to 25 cm (10 inches) in total length; females are often slightly deeper-bodied and heavier than males, while males may appear more slender.

Their diet should be based on vegetable matter and natural aufwuchs, including algae wafers, spirulina-based foods, blanched courgette, cucumber, spinach and other suitable vegetables. They also benefit from sinking foods containing wood fibre and occasional high-quality foods such as Repashy-style gel diets, bloodworm or brine shrimp. Feed after lights out or at dusk so slower fish are not outcompeted, and provide seasoned driftwood for grazing and fibre.

Antenna Plecos can live with peaceful South American fish such as small to medium tetras, pencilfish, peaceful rasboras, hatchetfish, Corydoras and other calm riverine catfish. They may also suit gentle dwarf cichlids when the aquarium offers plenty of cover and no species becomes territorial over caves or feeding areas. Avoid aggressive cichlids, boisterous feeders, fin-nippers and large plecos that compete for wood, algae and shelter.

Antenna Plecos are rarely bred in home aquariums, but spawning is thought to occur in a secluded cave or narrow piece of driftwood, where the female deposits a small batch of adhesive eggs. The male guards and fans the eggs until they hatch. Mature fish are most likely to breed when provided with excellent water quality, strong oxygenation, plenty of wood and a varied diet, with a slightly cooler, well-oxygenated period sometimes acting as a spawning trigger.

Mature females generally have a broader, fuller body, particularly when viewed from above. Males are usually slimmer and may develop more pronounced bristles or odontodes on the head and pectoral regions, although these differences can be subtle and are not always reliable in young fish.