Care
The Spotted Orange Seam Plec is known only from the Rio Orinoco drainage, Venezuela. Here these suckermouth catfish inhabit fast-flowing, highly oxygenated waters over a rocky substrate that provides a multitude of dark hiding places. The aquarium should be mature, with a soft sand or fine rounded gravel substrate and various pieces of smooth rockwork and bogwood arranged to create lots of shady caves and crevices. As plants are not found in any great abundance in the natural habitat, they can be omitted from the aquascape, although a few areas of hardy vegetation (that can cope with current) will make the aquarium look more aesthetically pleasing and will help with water quality. There should be brisk water movement and a high level of oxygenation, perhaps provided by powerheads (in addition to the current generated by the filtration). Small frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum; as a riverine species these fish are rather sensitive to the build up of nitrogenous waste. The Spotted Orange Seam Plec is generally peaceful, but it will show minor territorial aggression towards its own kind if not given enough space. In most instances though, they can be maintained in small groups as long as there is adequate room and enough hiding places to go round. Tankmates could include any small-medium sized peaceful shoaling fish that occupy the mid to upper levels of the water column and which also enjoy the warm, fast-flowing conditions.
Feeding
Omnivorous but with a preference for meaty foods. Bloodworm, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, and chopped prawns should all be enthusiastically consumed, and these can be supplemented with algae wafers and sinking catfish tablets/pellets along with occasional vegetable matter such as courgette, cucumber, lettuce, squash, spinach, sweet potato etc.
Breeding
This species has not been bred in the home aquarium. It is thought to be a cave spawner, with the male providing parental care.
