20/06/2026
Fish Profile: L014 Sunshine Plec
Distribution: Xingu River basin, Brazil.
Maximum Size: 35cm (13.8")
Temperature: 25-30°C
Water Parameters : Soft and slightly acidic.
pH: 5.8-7.2, KH: up to 10 degrees.
Compatibility: Specialist community
Lighting: Dim-medium
Care:
The Goldie Plec is endemic to the Rio Xingu, a south-eastern tributary of the Amazon River. Here the water flows quickly over rocky substrates where it is forced past boulders at speed and is saturated with oxygen. Such water courses are surrounded with marginal vegetation, and an aufwuchs-rich biofilm covers the rocky substrate, which these fish enjoy grazing upon.
Provide a spacious, mature aquarium with plenty of shady hiding places amongst tangles of bogwood, rocky caves, PVC pipes, and robust planting. Filtration should be efficient with areas of brisk water movement along with some quieter resting spots out of the current. There should be a decent level of oxygenation, and small frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. The Goldie Plec is generally peaceful, but it will show some territorial aggression towards its own kind if not given enough space. In most instances though, they can be maintained in small groups and with other Loricariids as long as there is adequate room and enough hiding places to go round. Tankmates could include any medium sized peaceful fish that enjoy soft, fast flowing water. This is one of the most vibrantly coloured of the larger-sized Loricariids. Sub-adults sport a very eye-catching polka dot pattern with bright golden fins, and although the prominent spots decrease in size as the fish mature, the actual number of spots increases, so the adults are still very striking fish.
May also be seen on sale as the Sunshine Pleco.
Feeding:
An omnivorous species, said to have an appetite for snails. Offer a variety of foodstuffs including sinking catfish pellets/tablets, carnivore pellets, and algae wafers. Smaller specimens will relish meaty frozen foods such as bloodworm, white mosquito larvae, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, chopped krill etc, and larger fish will enjoy whole prawns and mussels. Be sure to also provide a good proportion of vegetable matter such as blanched spinach, kale, courgette, cucumber, squash, sweet potato etc.
Breeding:
There are one or two reports of this species having been bred in the home aquarium, but it is a very rare occurrence and unfortunately no helpful details are available.
Sexual Dimorphism In mature fish, females are wider when viewed from above. Males develop odontodes on the leading edge of the pectoral fin rays.
Feeding Algae wafers, catfish pellets, granules, flake, frozen and live foods.
