L034 Medusa Pleco (Ancistrus ranunculus)
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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 L034 Medusa Pleco is one of the most striking and unique members of the Loricariidae family. Known for its distinctive facial bristles and jet-black coloration, this rare species adds an extraordinary visual element to any aquascape. Native to Brazil’s Xingu River basin, it thrives in highly oxygenated, fast-flowing waters over smooth stones and sandy substrate.
What We Love About This Fish:
• Exotic Appearance: Distinctive “Medusa-like” bristles on the head give this pleco its name.
• Jet-Black Beauty: Deep black coloration with a subtle metallic sheen under aquarium lighting.
• Peaceful Temperament: Calm and compatible with most community fish.
• Functional and Fascinating: Helps maintain surface cleanliness while adding visual intrigue.
Natural Habitat:
The Medusa Pleco originates from the Rio Xingu in Brazil, a clearwater tributary of the Amazon characterized by fast-moving water, high oxygen levels, and rocky substrates. These natural conditions should be simulated in the aquarium with good water movement, stable temperatures, and high-quality filtration.
Aquascaping:
• Plants: Hardy, anchored species like Anubias, Java Fern, and Bucephalandra.
• Hardscape: Smooth river rocks, driftwood, and pleco caves for shelter.
• Botanicals: Indian Almond Leaves, Catappa Bark, or alder cones to promote natural water chemistry and biofilm growth.
Diet and Feeding:
Although often seen grazing surfaces, this pleco is not a strict algae eater. Offer a balanced diet of sinking algae wafers, spirulina pellets, blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach), and high-protein foods such as frozen bloodworms or Repashy blends. Access to driftwood is beneficial for digestion and rasping behavior.
Tank Mates and Compatibility:
The Medusa Pleco is peaceful and does well in community aquariums with small tetras, rasboras, and other non-aggressive fish. Avoid housing with territorial bottom dwellers or fin-nipping species.
Shrimp Compatibility:
Generally safe with adult shrimp, particularly larger Neocaridina and Caridina species. However, newly hatched shrimp fry may be at risk of accidental predation, so providing ample cover with mosses or dense plants is recommended.
Breeding:
In nature, this species spawns in narrow rock crevices. In aquariums, provide tight-fitting caves, strong water flow, and high oxygen levels. Males guard eggs and young until they become free-swimming.
Recommended Tank Parameters:
• Temperature: 78° – 86° F (26° – 30° C)
• pH: 6.4 – 7.4
• KH: 2 – 8 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons
Care Guidelines:
• Diet: Omnivorous; requires a mix of plant and protein-based foods.
• Social Behavior: Peaceful; best kept singly or with other calm species.
• Origin: Wild-collected from the Xingu River, Brazil.
• Average Adult Size: 4.5 – 5 inches (11 – 13 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 2.5 – 3.5 inches (6 – 9 cm)
Bring home the mysterious beauty of the L034 Medusa Pleco — a rare and fascinating species prized for its elegance, calm nature, and signature “Medusa” appearance.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support.
What makes the L034 Medusa Pleco so unique?
The Medusa Pleco is instantly recognizable because of its long, branching facial tentacles that resemble flowing hair—hence the name. These tentacles become more pronounced as the fish matures and give it a look unlike almost any other pleco.
How big do Medusa Plecos get?
They stay relatively manageable in size, usually reaching about 4–5 inches as adults. This makes them a great option for aquarists who want a distinctive pleco without committing to a very large tank.
Are Medusa Plecos peaceful?
Yes. They’re generally peaceful and calm, especially toward mid- and upper-level tank mates. Like most plecos, they can be territorial with other bottom dwellers, particularly similar-looking plecos.
Can L034 Medusa Plecos live in community tanks?
They do very well in peaceful community aquariums. Ideal tank mates are calm fish that won’t bother them while they rest or compete aggressively for food at the bottom.
Do Medusa Plecos eat algae?
They will graze on biofilm and soft algae, especially when young. However, they should be viewed as an omnivorous pleco rather than a dedicated algae control solution.
What should I feed a Medusa Pleco?
A varied diet works best. High-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, fresh vegetables, and occasional protein-rich foods help keep them healthy and active.
Do Medusa Plecos need driftwood?
Driftwood is strongly recommended. It provides grazing surfaces, shelter, and helps recreate the natural environment these plecos prefer.
What kind of tank setup do Medusa Plecos prefer?
They thrive in tanks with plenty of structure—driftwood, caves, and shaded areas are important. Moderate flow and good oxygenation support their long-term health.
Are Medusa Plecos hardy?
Once acclimated, they’re quite hardy. Stable water parameters and regular maintenance go a long way in keeping them thriving.
Who is the L034 Medusa Pleco best suited for?
This species is perfect for aquarists who enjoy unusual, character-driven fish. If you appreciate subtle behavior and truly unique appearance over flashy color, the Medusa Pleco is an excellent 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.
