Golden Vampire Pleco (Leporacanthicus sp.)
- Low stock - 10 items left
- Backordered, shipping soon
For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout.
The Golden Vampire Pleco is an exceptionally rare and visually captivating species within the Leporacanthicus genus, renowned for its metallic golden sheen and distinctive fang-like teeth. Found in rocky, fast-flowing waters of the Amazon basin, this pleco combines striking appearance with an assertive yet manageable personality. Its vibrant golden coloration and graceful movement make it a remarkable centerpiece for experienced aquarists and collectors alike.
What We Love About This Fish:
• Brilliant Metallic Coloration: Deep bronze-to-gold body tones that shimmer under aquarium lighting.
• Signature “Vampire” Teeth: Prominent fang-like teeth used for rasping meaty foods and biofilm.
• Rare and Sought-After: A highly prized species seldom seen in the trade.
• Distinct Personality: Bold and curious without being overly aggressive.
Natural Habitat:
This species is collected from fast-flowing tributaries of the Amazon River in Brazil, where oxygen-rich waters flow over rocky substrates. The Golden Vampire Pleco naturally inhabits shaded crevices and rocky ledges, often resting beneath stones or driftwood between feedings.
Aquascaping:
• Plants: Hardy species such as Anubias, Java Fern, and Bucephalandra that can attach to hardscape.
• Hardscape: Smooth stones, caves, and driftwood to provide secure hiding spots.
• Botanicals: Indian Almond Leaves or alder cones to enhance natural tannins and promote healthy water chemistry. Aquatic Arts Botrnical Combo pack has a great selection of leave litter that plecos love.
Diet and Feeding:
The Golden Vampire Pleco is primarily carnivorous, feeding on invertebrates and meaty foods in the wild. In the aquarium, provide a varied diet of sinking carnivore wafers, frozen bloodworms, blackworms, and high-protein Repashy blends we use and recommend Ultra Fresh Carnivore Sticks. Occasional vegetable offerings such as blanched zucchini can supplement their diet and improve digestion.
Tank Mates and Compatibility:
Best kept with peaceful mid- and upper-level fish such as tetras, rasboras, and rainbowfish. Avoid housing with other bottom dwellers or territorial plecos unless the tank is large and structured with ample hiding areas.
Shrimp Compatibility:
May coexist with adult shrimp in larger aquariums, though due to their carnivorous diet, smaller or newly hatched shrimp may be at risk. For mixed setups, provide dense plant coverage or mosses for refuge.
Breeding:
Captive breeding is uncommon but possible under the right conditions. Males tend to guard their chosen caves aggressively during spawning. Strong current, warm temperatures, and well-oxygenated water are key to encouraging breeding behavior.
Recommended Tank Parameters:
• Temperature: 78° – 86° F (26° – 30° C)
• pH: 6.2 – 7.4
• KH: 2 – 8 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 40 gallons
Care Guidelines:
• Diet: Carnivorous; prefers meaty foods and high-protein sinking diets.
• Social Behavior: Semi-territorial; best kept singly or with peaceful tank mates.
• Origin: Wild-collected from the Amazon Basin, Brazil.
• Average Adult Size: 6 – 7 inches (15 – 18 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 3 – 4 inches (7.5 – 10 cm)
Add a touch of brilliance and mystery to your aquarium with the Golden Vampire Pleco, a rare gem that pairs elegance with strength and an unforgettable golden glow.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support.
What makes the Golden Vampire Pleco so unique?
This species stands out for its bold body shape and intense coloration. The golden to yellow base color combined with a thick, armored build gives it a powerful look that’s very different from common plecos. The name “Vampire Pleco” comes from its robust jaws and predatory appearance—not aggressive behavior.
How large do Golden Vampire Plecos get?
They’re a medium-to-large pleco, typically reaching around 7–9 inches as adults. Their size and bulk mean they do best in tanks with adequate space and strong filtration.
Are Golden Vampire Plecos aggressive?
They’re not aggressive toward typical community fish, but they can be territorial toward other bottom-dwelling species, especially other plecos. Providing caves and visual barriers helps reduce any territorial behavior.
Can Golden Vampire Plecos be kept in a community aquarium?
Yes, with the right tank mates. They do best with medium to large, peaceful fish that won’t harass them or compete heavily for bottom territory.
Do Golden Vampire Plecos eat algae?
They may graze occasionally, but this is not an algae-focused species. Golden Vampire Plecos are more carnivorous than most plecos and should not be relied on for algae control.
What do Golden Vampire Plecos eat?
They prefer a protein-rich diet. Sinking carnivore pellets, frozen foods like shrimp or bloodworms, and occasional fresh foods all work well. Driftwood should still be present in the tank, even though they are not strict wood-eaters.
What kind of tank setup do they prefer?
Strong flow, high oxygen levels, and rocky or wood-based hardscape suit them best. Caves and shaded areas are important, as they spend much of their time resting during the day.
Are Golden Vampire Plecos hardy?
Once established, they’re quite hardy. Clean, well-oxygenated water and consistent maintenance are key to keeping them healthy long term.
Can Golden Vampire Plecos be bred in home aquariums?
Breeding is rare but possible. They are cave spawners, and successful breeding typically requires mature adults, excellent water quality, and a well-structured environment.
Who is the Golden Vampire Pleco best suited for?
This pleco is ideal for aquarists looking for a bold, statement fish rather than a utility algae eater. If you enjoy unique species with presence and personality, the Golden Vampire Pleco is a standout choice.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
