🟡 L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco – (Pseudancistrus asurini) – Wild-Caught Rio Xingu Pleco

The L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco (Pseudancistrus asurini), also known as the Yellow Seam Pleco or Yellow-Edged Bearded Pleco, is an attractive Brazilian pleco distinguished by its dark greenish-brown to nearly black body covered with numerous pale yellow spots and contrasting yellow coloration on the dorsal and caudal fin tips.

Its pattern can include:

• 🟡 Numerous small yellow spots
• ⚫ Dark brown to greenish-black body coloration
• 💛 Yellow dorsal-fin tip
• 💛 Yellow caudal-fin tip
• 🌵 Heavy odontodes around the snout
• 🐟 Long, streamlined body

The combination of yellow spotting, yellow fin edging, and unusual snout odontodes makes L067 easy to recognize once mature.

The species originates from the Rio Xingu Basin in Pará, Brazil, particularly around Altamira, where it inhabits warm, clear, oxygen-rich water associated with rocky structures, fissures, and moving river habitat.

Although it will graze algae, L067 should not be purchased simply as an aquarium algae cleaner. Its natural feeding behavior is better described as aufwuchs and biofilm grazing, with a diet containing substantial plant and algal material along with microorganisms and small animal foods living within the grazing layer.

This is a medium-to-large pleco that should be expected to reach approximately:

8–10 Inches Total Length

and requires a mature aquarium with excellent filtration, warm water, high dissolved oxygen, rocks, shelters, and adequate bottom territory.

This listing is for:

WILD-CAUGHT L067 YELLOWSPOTTED STREAM PLECOS

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🔎 Quick Facts – L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco

• 📛 Common Name: Yellowspotted Stream Pleco
• 📛 Other Names: Yellow Seam Pleco, Yellow-Edged Bearded Pleco
• 🔢 L-Number: L067 / L67
• 🔬 Scientific Name: Pseudancistrus asurini
• 📅 Formally Described: 2015
• 🐟 Family: Loricariidae
• 🧬 Subfamily: Hypostominae
• 🌿 Stock: Wild Caught
• 📏 Current Size: Approximately 3–4 inches
• 🇧🇷 Country: Brazil
• 🌊 Native Range: Rio Xingu Basin
• 📍 Primary Locality: Rio Xingu near Altamira, Pará
• 🌊 Additional Documented Locality: Rio Iriri, a tributary of the Xingu
• 💧 Water Type: Freshwater / Xingu Clearwater
• 📏 Scientific Type Specimen: 195.8 mm / approximately 7.7 inches standard length
• 📏 Adult Planning Size: Approximately 8–10 inches total length
• 🏠 Recommended Aquarium: 75 gallons or larger
• 👥 Multiple Adults: 90–125+ gallons depending on bottom territory
• 🌡️ Temperature: Approximately 79–86°F
• 💧 pH: Approximately 5.5–7.0
• 💦 Water: Soft to moderately mineralized
• 💨 Oxygenation: High
• 🌊 Water Movement: Moderate to Strong
• 🍽️ Diet: Aufwuchs / Biofilm Grazer with Strong Plant Component
• 🌿 Vegetable & Algae Foods: Important
• 🦐 Animal Protein: Supplemental
• 🚫 Algae Cleaner: Should not be purchased solely for algae control
• 😌 Temperament: Generally peaceful toward midwater fish; territorial with other plecos
• 🌙 Activity: Primarily nocturnal / crepuscular
• 🐠 Swimming Area: Bottom
• ⭐ Care Level: Intermediate
• 🌎 IUCN Status: Not Evaluated
• 🥚 Captive Breeding: Not reliably documented

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🧬 A Formally Described Species

L067 entered the aquarium hobby long before it received a scientific species name.

For many years it appeared as:

Pseudancistrus sp. L067

In:

2015

scientists formally described the fish as:

Pseudancistrus asurini

The correct modern product identification is therefore:

L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco – (Pseudancistrus asurini)

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👥 What Does “asurini” Mean?

The species name:

asurini

honors the:

Asurini Indigenous Peoples

who live along portions of the Rio Xingu near Altamira in Pará, Brazil.

The name recognizes the Indigenous people associated with the region from which this species was scientifically described.

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🔢 L067 & The Historical L017 Confusion

L067 has an especially confusing history in the aquarium hobby.

The fish that is today known as:

Pseudancistrus asurini

was originally illustrated under the aquarium designation:

L017

Later, the L017 designation became associated with a different Xingu pleco.

That fish has since been formally described as:

Hopliancistrus wolverine

The Pseudancistrus fish became established in the aquarium hobby as:

L067

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⚠️ L067 Is Not Modern L017

Today these should be treated as separate fish.

L067

Pseudancistrus asurini

L017

Hopliancistrus wolverine

Both originate from the Xingu system and can appear superficially similar, which has contributed to years of confusion.

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🆚 L067 vs. L017

One of the easiest visual differences involves the yellow fin markings.

L067 – Pseudancistrus asurini

Typically displays yellow or pale edging on:

• Dorsal fin
• Caudal fin

and possesses prominent:

Odontodes Around the Snout Margin

L017 – Hopliancistrus wolverine

Can display yellow coloration on the caudal fin but does not show the same characteristic combination of:

• Yellow dorsal-fin tip
• Pseudancistrus-style snout odontodes

Correct L-number identification remains important.

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🟡 Appearance

The L067 is normally:

• Dark greenish brown
• Chocolate brown
• Gray-brown
• Charcoal
• Nearly black

with numerous:

Pale Yellow Spots

across the:

• Head
• Body
• Dorsal fin
• Caudal fin
• Pectoral fins
• Pelvic fins

The contrast can become particularly attractive on healthy, settled specimens.

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💛 Yellow Fin Tips

One of the defining characteristics of Pseudancistrus asurini is the pale yellow coloration found on the tips of the:

Dorsal Fin

and:

Caudal Fin

The original scientific description specifically noted this coloration in living specimens.

Depending on the individual, the color may appear:

• Yellow
• Golden yellow
• Pale cream-yellow
• Yellow-white

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🔄 Color Can Change

A newly imported or stressed L067 may temporarily appear:

• Lighter
• Gray
• Brown
• Less yellow
• Less strongly spotted

Color can be affected by:

• Stress
• Shipping
• Aquarium background
• Lighting
• Diet
• Water quality
• Acclimation

Allow wild-caught fish time to settle before judging mature coloration.

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🌵 The “Bearded” Appearance

The genus Pseudancistrus is especially interesting because mature fish develop:

Hypertrophied Odontodes Around the Snout Margin

These rigid, tooth-like projections can create a bristled or bearded appearance.

This has contributed to common names such as:

Yellow-Edged Bearded Pleco

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⚠️ Both Sexes Can Have Snout Odontodes

Unlike a Common Bristlenose where facial tentacles are strongly associated with mature males:

Both Male and Female Pseudancistrus asurini Possess Snout-Margin Odontodes.

Therefore:

Bristles Alone Do Not Automatically Mean Male.

This is an important sexing distinction.

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♂️ Male vs. Female

The original scientific description documented a useful anatomical difference.

Mature Males

Possess:

A Papilla Behind the Urogenital Opening

which females lack.

Experienced keepers also report that sexually mature or dominant males may develop:

• More prominent odontodes
• Broader head profile
• Stronger territorial behavior

Mature Females

May become:

• Fuller through the abdomen
• Broader when carrying eggs

However, external sexing can remain difficult.

Unless the sex is confidently established:

Sell as Unsexed

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🌎 Native Distribution

Pseudancistrus asurini is native to:

Brazil's Rio Xingu Basin

in:

Pará State

The species was scientifically described from locations around:

Altamira

including:

• Cachoeira do Espelho
• Cachoeira da Mucucura
• Other Rio Xingu localities near Altamira

It has also been scientifically collected in the:

Rio Iriri

which is a major tributary of the Rio Xingu.

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⚠️ More Accurate Than “Amazon Basin”

Your older listing says:

“Amazon Basin, South America”

Technically, the Xingu belongs to the broader Amazon drainage.

However, that description is far too broad for an L-number fish.

The much better customer description is:

Rio Xingu Basin – Pará, Brazil

That tells collectors where the fish actually originates.

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🪨 Natural Habitat

L067 occurs in warm Xingu river habitat containing:

• Rocky bottoms
• Smooth stones
• Boulders
• Rock fissures
• Crevices
• Moving water
• High dissolved oxygen

Wild Xingu observations show that L067 and several other flattened plecos use:

Cracks Within Large Granite Formations

as daytime shelter.

These are not simply loose gaps between rocks.

They can be natural fissures inside large stone formations.

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🏠 Aquarium Setup

A suitable L067 aquarium should contain:

• Smooth rocks
• Slate
• Rock crevices
• Large caves
• Driftwood
• Sand or smooth gravel
• Open grazing surfaces
• Shaded areas
• Strong filtration
• Good circulation
• High dissolved oxygen

Avoid very sharp décor that could damage the fish's:

• Belly
• Mouth
• Fins
• Odontodes

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🪨 Provide Rock Structure

Rockwork is especially useful because it creates:

• Shelter
• Territory
• Natural grazing surfaces
• Visual barriers
• Current breaks

Suitable aquarium rocks should be:

• Smooth
• Stable
• Securely positioned

Do not create unstable rock piles that could collapse.

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🏠 Caves & Shelters

Each adult should have access to a secure shelter.

Options include:

• Large ceramic pleco caves
• Slate caves
• Rock crevices
• Driftwood overhangs
• Low shelters

When keeping multiple plecos:

Provide More Shelters Than Fish

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📏 Adult Size

The largest specimen in the original scientific description measured:

195.8 mm Standard Length

which equals approximately:

7.7 Inches BEFORE the Tail Fin

Standard length does not include the full caudal fin.

Aquarium references commonly give the total adult size as approximately:

8–10 Inches

Therefore, the older 8–10 inch planning range is reasonable.

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🏠 Aquarium Size

For one adult L067:

75 Gallons or Larger

is recommended.

Although a juvenile can physically live in a smaller aquarium, adult L067s require:

• Bottom territory
• Strong filtration
• Large shelters
• Grazing surfaces
• Excellent water stability

For multiple adults or several substantial plecos:

90–125+ Gallons

is preferable.

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📐 Bottom Area Matters

Because the species spends most of its life on or near the substrate:

Aquarium Length and Width Matter More Than Excessive Height

A larger footprint provides:

• More territories
• More caves
• More grazing surfaces
• More feeding locations
• Reduced conflict

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🌡️ Warm-Water Species

One of the major corrections from the older page is temperature.

L067 is a:

WARM-WATER XINGU PLECO

A practical captive range is approximately:

79–86°F / 26–30°C

The older recommendation of:

74–79°F

is cooler than I would recommend for normal long-term maintenance.

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💨 HIGH OXYGENATION IS IMPORTANT

Warm water naturally holds less dissolved oxygen than cooler water.

At the same time, L067 originates from oxygen-rich moving water.

Therefore:

Warm Water Must Be Combined With High Oxygenation

Recommended methods include:

• Strong surface agitation
• Efficient filter returns
• Air stones
• Powerheads
• Circulation pumps
• Sump filtration

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🌊 Water Movement

Provide:

Moderate to Strong Water Movement

with sheltered areas where the fish can rest.

A well-designed aquarium contains:

🌊 Higher-Flow Zones

for:

• Oxygenation
• Grazing
• Natural behavior

and:

🪨 Sheltered Zones

for:

• Resting
• Hiding
• Territorial retreat

The entire tank does not need extreme flow.

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💧 Water Parameters

A practical aquarium range is:

• 🌡️ Temperature: 79–86°F
• 💧 pH: Approximately 5.5–7.0
• 💦 Hardness: Soft to moderately mineralized
• 💨 Oxygenation: High
• 🌊 Flow: Moderate to Strong
• ☠️ Ammonia: 0 ppm
• ☠️ Nitrite: 0 ppm
• 🔄 Nitrate: Keep as low as reasonably practical

This species is best maintained in:

Stable, Mature Aquarium Conditions

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⚠️ Sensitive to Poor Water Quality

L067 should not be treated as an indestructible Common Pleco.

It can be sensitive to:

• Elevated nitrate
• Accumulated waste
• Low oxygen
• Poor filtration
• Sudden parameter changes

Regular water changes are important.

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💩 Filtration

Strong filtration is recommended.

Suitable systems may include:

• Large canister filters
• Sump filtration
• High-capacity biological filtration
• Strong mechanical filtration
• Supplemental sponge filtration
• Powerheads for circulation

Maintain:

Ammonia = 0

and:

Nitrite = 0

at all times.

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🍽️ Diet – Aufwuchs & Biofilm Grazer

The L067 should be described primarily as an:

AUFWUCHS / BIOFILM GRAZER

with a strong plant and algae component.

Aufwuchs is the complex layer growing naturally on submerged surfaces.

It can contain:

• Algae
• Bacteria
• Biofilm
• Microorganisms
• Organic material
• Tiny invertebrates

Wild plecos graze this entire biological layer.

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🌿 Plant-Based Foods Are Important

The captive diet should contain a substantial amount of plant-based nutrition.

Suitable foods include:

• Quality algae wafers
• Spirulina wafers
• Vegetable-based pleco foods
• Spirulina-containing gel foods
• Zucchini
• Squash
• Cucumber
• Green beans
• Appropriate leafy greens

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🦐 Supplemental Protein

Natural aufwuchs also contains animal material.

Appropriate supplemental foods can include:

• Mysis shrimp
• Brine shrimp
• Bloodworms
• Insect larvae
• Chopped shrimp
• Insect-based sinking foods

However:

Animal Protein Should Be Supplemental

rather than turning L067 into a predominantly carnivorous pleco.

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⚠️ Do Not Overfeed Meat

A diet made primarily from:

• Shrimp
• Mussel
• Bloodworms
• High-protein carnivore pellets

is not appropriate for long-term L067 care.

This species has a strong grazing and plant-based nutritional component.

The better approach is:

Plant / Algae Foods + Biofilm + Moderate Supplemental Protein

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🚫 Not Simply an Algae Cleaner

L067 certainly consumes algae-containing biofilm.

However:

DO NOT PURCHASE IT SIMPLY TO CLEAN THE AQUARIUM.

It should receive intentional feeding.

Aquarium algae alone cannot be relied upon to provide complete long-term nutrition.

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🪵 Driftwood

Driftwood is useful because it provides:

• Shelter
• Biofilm
• Grazing surfaces
• Territory
• Shade

However:

L067 Is Not a Specialized Wood-Eating Pleco

It should not be treated like:

• Panaque
• Panaqolus

Wood is excellent habitat but should not be presented as the primary food source.

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🌙 Nocturnal Behavior

L067 is primarily:

NOCTURNAL / CREPUSCULAR

It may remain hidden during bright portions of the day.

Activity usually increases:

• At dusk
• After lights go out
• During feeding
• Under dim lighting

Established fish may eventually become more confident during daytime.

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🧪 Wild-Caught Acclimation

This listing is for:

WILD-CAUGHT L067 YELLOWSPOTTED STREAM PLECOS

Your current specimens are approximately:

3–4 Inches

Wild-caught fish deserve careful acclimation.

After arrival:

• Keep lighting subdued
• Provide immediate shelter
• Maintain high oxygen
• Avoid sudden temperature changes
• Avoid sudden pH changes
• Monitor respiration
• Confirm feeding
• Maintain excellent water quality

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🍽️ Make Sure Wild Fish Are Eating

A newly imported L067 may remain hidden while other fish consume its food.

Offer foods:

• Close to the shelter
• During evening
• After lights out
• At multiple locations

Watch body condition carefully.

A severely:

Sunken Abdomen

can indicate that the fish is not receiving enough nutrition.

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😌 Temperament

Toward most midwater fish, L067 is generally:

Peaceful

The primary territorial issues occur with:

• Other L067s
• Large loricariids
• Other plecos
• Bottom dwellers competing for the same shelters

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⚠️ Adult Males Can Be Territorial

Large mature males may become strongly territorial.

Conflict can involve:

• Chasing
• Pushing
• Blocking shelters
• Odontode contact

The fish's snout odontodes can become substantial.

Provide:

• Multiple shelters
• Visual barriers
• Separate feeding areas
• Adequate floor space

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🐠 Tankmates

Potential tankmates may include warm-water:

• Tetras
• Characins
• Peaceful cichlids
• Other midwater South American fish

Choose fish that tolerate:

• Warm temperatures
• Soft to moderately mineralized water
• High oxygen
• Good circulation

Use more caution when adding other large plecos.

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🥚 Breeding

The reproductive biology of L067 remains poorly documented in captivity.

Unlike species such as:

• Ancistrus
• Hypancistrus
• Peckoltia

there are not strong, repeatable, species-specific aquarium breeding records for:

Pseudancistrus asurini

Therefore:

I WOULD NOT ADVERTISE L067 AS A CONFIRMED EASY CAVE-SPAWNING SPECIES.

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⚠️ Avoid Guessing About Breeding

Closely related loricariids frequently use protected spawning sites, and territorial males suggest a similar reproductive strategy may be possible.

However, without reliable species-specific documentation, it is better to state:

Captive Breeding Is Not Reliably Documented

rather than presenting:

• Clutch sizes
• Incubation periods
• Breeding temperatures
• Exact spawning behavior

as established facts.

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🧬 Preserve L-Number Identification

The L067 identity remains important.

Do not casually mix breeding stock identified as:

• L067
• L017
• Other Pseudancistrus
• Similar Xingu plecos

and later sell offspring under a pure L-number designation.

Accurate identification protects:

• Buyer confidence
• Breeding lines
• Scientific value
• Aquarium records

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🌎 Conservation Status

FishBase currently lists Pseudancistrus asurini as:

NOT EVALUATED

on the IUCN Red List.

This means:

Not Evaluated Does NOT Mean Least Concern

It simply means the species has not received a formal global IUCN conservation assessment.

Because L067 has a restricted documented distribution within the:

Rio Xingu Basin

responsible sourcing and long-term aquarium care remain important.

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⭐ Why Keep an L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco?

The L067 is an impressive choice for experienced pleco keepers because of its combination of:

• 🟡 Bright yellow spotting
• 💛 Yellow dorsal and caudal fin tips
• ⚫ Dark body coloration
• 🌵 Distinctive snout odontodes
• 🌊 Rio Xingu origin
• 🪨 Rock-fissure lifestyle
• 🌿 Interesting aufwuchs-grazing diet
• 🌙 Nocturnal personality
• 📏 Impressive 8–10 inch adult potential
• 🧬 Formally described scientific identity

A mature L067 in good condition is dramatically different from the more familiar plecos commonly seen in aquarium stores.

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⚠️ Important Considerations

Before purchasing an L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco:

• The correct scientific name is Pseudancistrus asurini.
• The species was formally described in 2015.
• L067 originates from Brazil's Rio Xingu Basin.
• The primary scientific locality is around Altamira, Pará.
• The Rio Iriri is also included within its documented range.
• Historical references may confuse L067 with L017.
• Modern L017 is Hopliancistrus wolverine.
• L067 displays yellow coloration on both the dorsal and caudal fin tips.
• This listing is for wild-caught fish.
• Current specimens are approximately 3–4 inches.
• The scientific type specimen reached approximately 7.7 inches standard length before the tail.
• Plan for approximately 8–10 inches total adult length.
• Provide approximately 75 gallons or larger.
• Use larger aquariums for groups and multiple large bottom dwellers.
• Provide rocks, crevices, and shelters.
• Maintain warm water around 79–86°F.
• Maintain high dissolved oxygen.
• Provide moderate to strong water movement.
• Keep ammonia and nitrite at zero.
• Keep nitrate low.
• Feed a diet rich in algae, biofilm, plant-based foods, and vegetables.
• Provide appropriate supplemental animal protein.
• Do not maintain it on a meat-heavy diet.
• Do not purchase it solely as an algae cleaner.
• Expect territorial behavior from mature males.
• Captive breeding is not reliably documented.
• Preserve L-number identification.
• Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.

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🧬 Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name is:

Pseudancistrus asurini Silva, Roxo & Oliveira, 2015

Classification:

• Order: Siluriformes
• Family: Loricariidae
• Subfamily: Hypostominae
• Genus: Pseudancistrus
• Species: asurini

Historical aquarium identifications include:

• Pseudancistrus sp. L067
• Pseudancistrus sp. L67
• Early use of L017 for the fish later recognized as L067

For this product, use:

L067 Yellowspotted Stream Pleco – (Pseudancistrus asurini)

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🔢 L017 Identification Disclaimer

Early aquarium literature used the number L017 for a fish now recognized as Pseudancistrus asurini.

The modern aquarium usage of:

L017

refers instead to:

Hopliancistrus wolverine

while:

L067

refers to:

Pseudancistrus asurini

These fish should not be treated as interchangeable.

Correct L-number and scientific identification should always be preserved.

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🚚 Live Fish Shipping

Live fish are professionally packed for safe transport.

Shipping availability depends on:

• Fish size
• Destination
• Weather conditions
• Carrier availability
• Applicable state and local regulations

Larger specimens may require:

• Larger insulated shipping boxes
• Additional water
• Heavy-duty shipping bags
• Specialized packing

Please review our Shipping & Payment Information and Live Arrival Guarantee / DOA Policy before ordering.

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⚠️ Buyer Responsibility

Customers are responsible for confirming that Pseudancistrus asurini may legally be purchased, possessed, transported, and received in their state or local jurisdiction before ordering.

Never release aquarium fish into natural waterways.

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