L333 King tiger pleco

Species Profile

• Scientific Name: Hypancistrus seideli (formerly traded as Hypancistrus sp. L333)

• Common Name: L333 King Tiger Pleco, Yellow King Tiger Pleco

• Adult Size: 4.5–6 inches (11–15 cm)

• Life Expectancy: Approximately 8–15 years with proper care.

• Habitat:

  • Native to the Rio Xingu Basin, Pará, Brazil, South America.

  • Inhabits warm, fast-flowing freshwater environments with rocky surfaces, crevices and submerged structures.

  • Prefers clean, highly oxygenated water with good circulation.

Tank Requirements

• Minimum Tank Size: 30 gallons (114 litres) for one adult; larger aquariums recommended for groups.

• Ideal Temperature: 79–86°F (26–30°C).

• pH Range: 6.0–7.5.

• Water Hardness: 2–10 dGH (soft to moderately hard water).

• Temperament: Peaceful, but can be territorial towards other plecos.

  • Mostly nocturnal and prefers shaded hiding places.

  • Provide caves, rocks and multiple hiding spots.

  • Suitable for peaceful tropical community aquariums.

Diet & Nutrition

Omnivorous – Protein-Oriented Feeder

A balanced diet should include:

• High-quality sinking carnivore pellets and pleco wafers.

• Frozen foods: bloodworms, brine shrimp and mysis shrimp.

• Occasional live foods such as small worms and insect larvae.

• Vegetables: zucchini, cucumber and green beans.

• Algae and biofilm naturally found on aquarium surfaces.

Important: Unlike common algae-eating plecos, L333 requires a protein-rich diet and should not be relied upon for aquarium algae control.

Breeding & Spawning

• Egg-layer: A cave-spawning species.

• Males establish and defend suitable breeding caves.

• Females deposit eggs inside the cave.

• Males guard and fan the eggs until hatching.

• Eggs generally hatch within approximately 5–7 days, depending on conditions.

• Fry initially survive on their yolk sacs before accepting finely prepared foods and newly hatched brine shrimp.

• Excellent water quality, strong oxygenation and suitable caves are important for successful breeding.

Appearance

• Body Shape: Elongated, compact and heavily armoured body.

• Colour: Golden yellow, cream or pale whitish base colour.

• Pattern: Distinctive bold black or dark brown tiger-like stripes and maze-shaped markings.

• Head: Broad, flattened head with attractive irregular striping.

• Mouth: Sucker-shaped mouth adapted for clinging to rocks and aquarium surfaces.

• Fins: Broad pectoral and dorsal fins with contrasting striped patterns.

Distinctive Features

• Beautiful tiger-like black markings against a golden-yellow background.

• Popular among L-number pleco collectors.

• Relatively manageable adult size compared with larger pleco species.

• Peaceful nature, although males can be territorial.

• Prefers caves, rocks and strong water circulation.

• Mostly nocturnal, becoming more active during feeding time.

• Successfully bred in captivity by experienced aquarists.

Care Level: Moderate

Special Note: L333 is an aquarium trade identification number. Modern taxonomy places this form within Hypancistrus seideli, formally described in 2025. The L333 designation remains useful for identifying and maintaining this particular aquarium form.