Back when pretty much any kind of Plecos were openly exported from Brazil, new areas were continuously explored by fishermen. One such area was the Rio Jari, an eastern affluent flowing southward into the Amazon. From this area, some Hypancistrus forms were collected and distributed in the hobby, but because of their fairly recent introduction and slightly modest appearance compared to other, readily available representatives of their genus, they never managed to really get a foothold among aquarists. When Brazil tightened their grip on illegal exports, these Jari forms quickly diminished in the trade. The nicest Hypancistrus known form from the river is certainly L316, also called Jari Zebra Pleco. It can be recognized by its tiny eyes and pointy head. Very little commercial fishing takes place in Rio Jari these days, so L316 has become a true rarity in the hobby. This is a real shame, as we are certainly dealing with one of the most attractive members of the genus here.

Facts:

Name: Hypancistrus sp.

Trade names: Jari Zebra Pleco, L316

Origin: Rio Jari, Brazil

Maximum size: 12 cm / 5”

L316 need an aquarium set up consisting of lots of hiding places in the form of rocks, wood and of course specially made caves that suit their measurements. In these the males will eventually guard their offspring. They prefer water that is warm (27-30 C), soft and slightly acidic. Most of all it should be well oxygenated and clean, so a good filtration system and frequent water changes are essential. Among themselves they are peaceful, although males may quarrel for caves and females can sometimes be badly injured or even killed during the breeding-trapping in the male’s cave. Males develop longer odontodes on their pectoral fins and on their cheeks and have broader heads. Hypancistrus are mostly carnivorous, so a selection of crustaceans, insect larvae and fish meat should be offered along with high quality dried foods that also contain some vegetable matter. More on how to breed them in this excellent article by my mentor Janne Ekström.

More info:

DATZ original PDF

L-Welse 

Planet Catfish

ScotCat