Peckoltia sp. L-080

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Peckoltia sp. L-080 is a South American loricariid valued for its contrasting pattern and discreet behavior. Known in the aquarium trade as the Prince Tiger, this sucker-mouthed catfish comes from the Rio Tocantins basin in Brazil. It spends much of the day sheltered, becoming more active when the lights are dimmed. Successful care requires clean, well-oxygenated water, hiding places, and a varied diet with a strong plant component. As a fish collected from the wild, it deserves careful acclimation and responsible long-term care. Its availability remains moderate within the aquarium hobby.

General species description

Peckoltia sp. L-080 is an aquarium and trade form identified by the L-080 code; the term sp. indicates that its identity has not been assigned a complete species name. It belongs to sucker-mouthed loricariids, fish adapted to living on solid surfaces in flowing water. The Prince Tiger is valued for its natural appearance, relative hardiness, and mostly crepuscular activity. It is generally peaceful with similarly sized fish, although adults may defend a cave or a small area around a shelter. Because this is a wild-collected fish, quarantine, gradual acclimation, and close observation of its condition are strongly recommended.

Geographic origin and biotope

Peckoltia sp. L-080 is associated with the Rio Tocantins in Brazil. Its natural environment includes river sections where current renews oxygen and carries little fine sediment onto rocky surfaces. Adults use rocks, submerged wood, and cavities as daytime refuges. To reproduce these conditions in an aquarium, provide effective circulation, stable water, and several dark shelters. Oversized filtration and regular water changes are preferable to stagnant conditions. The biotope may also include riparian vegetation, but the aquarium layout should focus mainly on solid surfaces and hiding places.

Precise location and local name

The available geographic reference for Peckoltia sp. L-080 is the Rio Tocantins within Brazil’s river system. The most widely used trade name is Prince Tiger, while L-080 is a reference code used in the trade for undescribed loricariids. This code is not an official scientific name. In an aquarium, it is best to retain the name Peckoltia sp. L-080 to avoid an overly precise identification or confusion with other striped Peckoltia. The origin should also remain associated with wild specimens in order to preserve traceability among collected fish.

Appearance and physical characteristics

Peckoltia sp. L-080 has a stocky body, a flattened underside, and protective bony plates. Its lower mouth forms an effective sucker, suited to attaching to rocks and grazing surfaces. The Prince Tiger’s pattern consists of a brown-gold to beige base color crossed by irregular dark bands, creating a tiger-like appearance. The fins usually carry matching markings, which may vary with age, origin, and condition. Cheek and pectoral-fin odontodes can become more visible in adult males, especially when breeding. Adult size remains moderate for a river loricariid.

General diet

Peckoltia sp. L-080 accepts a varied diet that includes sinking catfish tablets, vegetable wafers, and frozen or prepared foods. A substantial part of the diet should consist of algae-based and plant foods, supplemented with moderate amounts of protein-rich items. Blanched vegetables such as zucchini or cucumber may be offered occasionally, with leftovers removed before they decay. Natural wood is not a substitute for a complete diet, but it enriches the layout and provides a useful grazing surface. Feeding after the lights go out helps the fish reach its food and reduces competition. Regular feeding helps maintain a well-filled belly without causing excessive weight gain.

Essential data

• River of origin: Rio Tocantins
• Local name used: Prince Tiger
• Origin of the scientific name: Peckoltia is a genus name; sp. means that the species is not specified.
• Etymology of the full name: Peckoltia honors pharmacist and naturalist Gustav Peckolt; sp. means species; L-080 is an aquarium identification code.
• Common/vernacular names: Prince Tiger, L-080
• Family: Loricariidae
• Subfamily: Hypostominae
• Name pronunciation: peck-OL-tee-ah spuh - ell zero eight zero
• Maximum adult size: about 12 cm
• Water temperature and pH: 25 to 29 °C; pH 6.0 to 7.5
• Appearance of the watercourse and surrounding vegetation: well-oxygenated river, rocky sections and submerged wood, with riparian vegetation
• Typical tankmates: small South American tetras, Corydoras spp., small hatchetfish, Apistogramma spp., other peaceful loricariids
• Temperament and behavior: peaceful, discreet, mainly crepuscular and nocturnal; limited territoriality around shelters
• Water depth: shoreline areas and shallow to intermediate sections
• Sexual dimorphism: adult males often have a broader head, with more developed odontodes on the cheeks and pectoral fins
• Bottom structure and flow: rocks, gravel, and submerged wood; moderate to strong flow and highly oxygenated water
• Collection status: wild-collected species, requiring careful acclimation and responsible long-term care
• Aquarium rarity: moderately rare; availability varies with imports

In your aquarium

To succeed with Peckoltia sp. L-080, provide a mature aquarium, stable water, and well-distributed current. Offer several caves of different sizes, wood, and resting surfaces to reduce competition. A varied nighttime diet is essential, particularly during the first weeks after a wild fish arrives. Monitor the belly, breathing, and fin condition during acclimation. Avoid aggressive or overly competitive bottom-dwelling tankmates. With good oxygenation, strict maintenance, and suitable shelters, the Prince Tiger can become a long-lived and interesting aquarium resident.