Grosvenor Tropicals

Grosvenor Tropicals fully supports the OATA's policy on the humane treatment of livestock offered for sale. We reserve the right to refuse any sale where we believe that the customer is unable to provide a suitable environment for care of that species. It is also our policy NOT to supply Goldfish to Stallholders, Traders or Organisations seeking to offer them for sale or as prizes at Fairs or Fetes etc.

Gibbiceps Glyptoperichthys gibbiceps

Often mistaken for the Plecostomus, the Gibbiceps is another peaceful, if somewhat large, member of the Loricariid family of armoured suckermouth catfish.

It has a typical 'Plec' shape. Prominent nuchal crest and large nasal flares. The Dorsal fin is large with 12-13 rays, the first ray being equal to the length of the head. Similarly the Pectoral spine almost reaching the middle ventral. The outer rays of the Caudal Fin, (tail), are emarginated, (elongated beyond the others). Body and fins have large dark spots separated by light reticulations, although colouration and markings can vary quite a bit in each individual. Spots on head are smaller. Colour intensifies with age.

Gibbiceps Their native range is throughout the Amazon basin and the Rio Pacaya in Peru. They are hardy fish but do demand good water quality if they are to thrive. They do however have similar habits, and grow to a similar size as the Plecostomus so a big tank is essential. Even then, breeding is not a practical proposition in the home aquarium as they lay their eggs in excavated holes dug into the banks of rivers, although commercial breeders for the aquarium trade do manage it.

They are mostly vegetarian with algae being their number one source of food, but to keep a large fish fed on algae alone is impossible so you can feed also, spinach, blanched lettuce, cucumber, courgette and also non vegetable food such as tablets and prawns. With so much vegetable matter in their diet they excrete copious amounts of waste so a good external filtration system is important.

Being nocturnal, they usually avoid light and like to hide in dark places, coming out to feed at night. However, in aquaria, they can easily learn to be active in the daytime. Usually sold around 2" - 4", they quickly settle in and start working on the algae covered surfaces throughout the aquarium. However this is only a ploy, within weeks they are showing signs of growth and begin displaying a very lazy attitude to work. By the end of a year they have doubled in size and stopped working completely, instead choosing a secluded spot, usually behind the filter or other large decor, and spend all day "relaxing".

This has some serious implications for the home aquarist. As I noted before, they are a hardy fish, and likely to live more than 10 years in the home aquarium, by which time they may well have reached 14" - 18". At this size not only will they rearrange all the decor by "Bulldozing" it out of their way, but it will find it difficult to survive scavenging for plant matter and crustaceans in the aquarium. This is when you discover that they are not solely herbivorous browsers, and are in fact quite partial to some fish meat.

Water should be clear with a gentle flow, temperature 25° - 30°C (76° - 86°F), and pH 6.0 - 7.8.