Sunshine pleco, Scobinancistrus aureatus

Plecos · Scobinancistrus

Sunshine pleco L014

Scobinancistrus aureatus · Rio Xingu, Brazil

Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Yellow spots and orange fin edges. A big snail-eater that needs a large tank.

The Sunshine pleco L014 (Scobinancistrus aureatus) is a freshwater fish from Rio Xingu, Brazil, where it lives in rapids habitat. Adults reach about 30 cm (11.8 in). Keep it at 27–31 °C (81–88 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5, with strong, well-oxygenated flow. It is territorial. Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

At a glance

Water temperature

27–31 °C 81–88 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

30 cm 11.8 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Current

Strong fast, oxygen-rich water

Food

Meaty foods

Temperament

Territorial

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Rio Xingu, Brazil

Xingu

Lives in rapids habitat.

The dot marks where it's collected. Map: Natural Earth.

Sunshine pleco

L014

≈

Plecos · ScobinancistrusRare

Yellow spots and orange fin edges.

Sunshine pleco

L014

Scobinancistrus aureatus

Rio Xingu, Brazil · rapids

Temperature: 27–31°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 12 in · 30 cm
Flow: Strong
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Territorial
Diet: Carnivore
Breeding: Rarely
Typical price: $150–400
In Canada: Rare
Rarity: Rare or hard to breed

Yellow spots and orange fin edges. A big snail-eater that needs a large tank.

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Photo: Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0

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Sources

We name everyone whose work is on this page. Where sources disagree, we show the best one: a scientific paper first, then aquarium references.

Photo Gabriel Lelis Togni, CC BY 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
Map of rivers and countries Natural Earth public domain map data Map

Not checked yet: temperature, pH, adult size, water flow, habitat, temperament, diet, breeding, availability, price, home range. These are our own estimates from typical hobby ranges. We haven't checked them against a published source yet.

Know a good source for this fish? Tell us

Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with high flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Need a different pH

Acei
Want calm water

Angelfish Betta (Siamese fighting fish)
Need a different pH and aggressive

Auratus
Need different temperatures

Balzanii Borelli's dwarf cichlid Butterfly hillstream loach Celestial pearl danio

In the hobby

Where to find it

No store or breeder we know of has it right now.

Run a store? List the fish you usually have. Breed fish? List your fry.

Search Kijiji for L014

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Sunshine pleco L014 get?

About 30 cm (11.8 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Sunshine pleco L014 need?

27–31 °C (81–88 °F).

What pH does a Sunshine pleco L014 need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Is the Sunshine pleco L014 aggressive?

It is territorial. Give it its own cave or space.

What does a Sunshine pleco L014 eat?

Feed meaty foods: frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp and quality sinking pellets.

Where does the Sunshine pleco L014 come from?

Rio Xingu, Brazil.

What fish can live with a Sunshine pleco L014?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Zebra (L046), Agassiz's dwarf cichlid, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Cardinal tetra.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	27	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	31	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Genus default (genus)
pH max	7.5	Genus default (genus)
Adult size (cm)	30	Estimate
Flow	High	Estimate
Habitat	rapids	Estimate
Temperament	Territorial	Estimate
Diet	Carnivore	Estimate
Breeding difficulty	Rarely	Estimate
Availability in Canada	rare	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	150	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	400	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.