Pineapple pleco, orange cheek pleco (Pseudorinelepis genibarbis) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Pinecone pleco, L095, Pseudorinelepis pellegrini, Pseudorinelepis agassizii, Pseudorinelepis carachama, Plecostomus pellegrini
Family
Loricariidae (suckermouth armoured catfishes)
Origin
Upper Amazon basin, South America – small sluggish streams, floodplain lakes and large rivers, usually in very soft water.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
35.6 cm
Temperature
23–27°C
pH
4.5–7.5
Hardness
Very soft to soft
Minimum tank
400 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful

Care

A large, heavily armoured pleco with rough, ridged scutes that give it a pinecone-like look; the cheeks can show orange. PlanetCatfish gives a maximum of 35.6 cm standard length (FishBase agrees), so this is a fish for big tanks only. No source gives a tank size; around 400 litres for one adult is our estimate from its size. Use a soft sand or smooth substrate, large pieces of driftwood, and big caves or overhangs, with strong filtration and regular water changes to deal with the waste of a fish this size. PlanetCatfish gives 23–27 °C. FishBase notes it lives in floodplain waters that are generally very soft, with a pH range of about 4.5–7.5. It can breathe air and tolerates low-oxygen water in the wild, but it is not an obligate air-breather and does not routinely gulp air in a well-oxygenated aquarium. Name notes: PlanetCatfish and FishBase both use Pseudorinelepis genibarbis; older names include P. pellegrini, P. agassizii and P. carachama. In the trade it is linked with the code L095; L152 is a different Pseudorinelepis on PlanetCatfish, and the two are easily confused, so check photos when buying. The genus name means "false Rhinelepis", and genibarbis refers to the bristles on the cheeks. Sexing details are not given by the sources. FishBase lists it as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List (2020). Selling: our policies require the adult size and long-term tank needs to be stated clearly in the listing. Large fish must travel by a specialist live-animal courier (see the Livestock shipping guide). Sources: PlanetCatfish (planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?speciesid=202); FishBase (fishbase.se/summary/Pseudorinelepis-genibarbis.html). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Neither PlanetCatfish nor FishBase gives a detailed diet. As general guidance for a large pleco, offer a varied mix of sinking pellets and algae wafers, vegetables such as courgette and cucumber, and some meaty frozen foods, with driftwood in the tank. Feed in the evening and remove leftovers.

Breeding

PlanetCatfish lists breeding as unreported, and no aquarium breeding method is known.

Compatibility and tank mates

Sources give no specific compatibility notes. Like most large plecos it is generally kept with robust, medium to large fish such as larger characins, peaceful cichlids and doradids, and it may defend its cave against other plecos. Too large for a typical community tank.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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