Not furry, but we like them anyway.
Pitbull Pleco
Parotocinclus jumbo Britski & Garavello, 2002
Also called Cascudinho (Brazil, used for the subfamily)
From Endemic to north-eastern Brazil: coastal rivers of Ceara, Paraiba, Pernambuco and Alagoas, including the Paraiba do Norte and Piranhas rivers.12
At a glance the quick version
Wikipedia gives 4 cm total length; FishBase gives 5.8 cm standard length.
Looks how to spot one
Bony-plated suckermouth catfish
A small, elongated armoured catfish related to the otocinclus. The bristly odontodes on its snout are nearly as wide as long with heart-shaped tips. It grows larger than most members of its genus.21
Personality what they are like
A small, unassuming grazer; no detailed behaviour accounts were found in primary sources.1
Daily activity how busy a day looks
Spends its time on the bottom, grazing surfaces in shallow water. Can gulp air at the surface when needed.13
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
Tropical freshwater fish from clear, slow-moving shallow rivers. No species-specific water values were found in primary sources. Mimic its home with clean, clear water, gentle flow, and a sand and pebble bottom with smooth stones to graze.12
Home where they are happiest
Lives in flat, shallow stretches of clear water with weak current over sand and rocks.12
Food basics what goes in the bowl
Members of its genus graze surfaces and stir up fine particles while feeding; offer algae and soft vegetable foods.3
The story where it all began
Brazilian ichthyologists Heraldo Britski and Julio Garavello described the species in 2002 from the Paraiba do Norte River. Its genus name means 'near Otocinclus', because the first species was first placed in that genus.23
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
The name jumbo refers to its large size for a Parotocinclus, and nods to Jumbo, the elephant P.T. Barnum brought from London Zoo in 1882.2
- 2
In the wild, small Characidium fish follow Parotocinclus around to eat the bits they stir up while grazing.3
- 3
It can breathe air at the surface when it needs to.1
Recognised by the official bits
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern (assessed 7 November 2018)1
- Taxonomy
- Family Loricariidae; described by Britski and Garavello in 20022
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Pitbull Pleco. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- FeedingSmall amounts once or twice a dayevery day
- Temperature checkevery day
- Water changeAbout 25% of the waterevery week
- Water testevery week
- Glass cleanevery week
- Filter rinseRinse in old tank water, never tap waterevery month
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at support@furrydiary.app and we will fix it.
- FishBase: Parotocinclus jumbo summary fishbase.seused for distribution, length, habitat, IUCN, air-breathing, name meaning
- Wikipedia: Parotocinclus jumbo en.wikipedia.orgused for description, length, distribution, habitat, etymology, history
- Wikipedia: Parotocinclus en.wikipedia.orgused for genus feeding habits and name meaning
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.