🐟 Hypostomus khimaera – Hypostomus khimaera
Named after the mythical chimera creature for its intriguing mix of traits seen across different pleco species.WikipediaWikipedia
🔍 Quick Facts
🕊️ Behavior & Distinctive Traits
🏡 Habitat & Ecology
🌈 Distinctive Identification Features
📊 Overview Table
Feature | Details |
---|---|
🧬 Scientific Name | Hypostomus khimaera |
🌍 Origin | Upper Paraguay River basin, Brazil |
📏 Max Size | Up to 16.4 cm SL (≈ 6.5 in) |
Behavior | Bottom-dwelling, air-breather, variable in form |
Habitat | Sandy/gravel streams; occasional larger rivers |
Distinguishers | Midline stripe, dark spots, angled dentaries, unique tooth form |
Ideal For | Advanced aquarists with mid-size tanks, driftwood and sandy substrate |
✏️ Snippet
Hypostomus khimaera is a mid-sized, South American pleco with flexible morphology, characterized by a flank stripe, dark spotting, and uniquely shaped teeth—best suited for well-structured aquariums with sandy substrate and natural hiding spaces.