Titanic Super Red Pleco (L-273) Care Guide – How to Keep One of the Rarest and Most Stunning Plecos in the Hobby

Introduction: A True Showpiece in the L-Number World

The Titanic Super Red Pleco (L-273) is one of the most coveted and striking plecos available in the freshwater aquarium hobby. With a vibrant burnt-orange to deep red coloration, bold spotting, and a powerful body shape, it’s considered the “Ferrari” of the pleco world.

Native to the Rio Tapajós in Brazil, this species is both rare and visually elite, often commanding premium prices due to its scarcity and extreme beauty. For serious pleco keepers, owning a Titanic Pleco is a statement.

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🔍 Species Overview

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🏠 Ideal Tank Setup

📏 Tank Size

• Minimum: 125 gallons

• Ideal: 180–240+ gallons with ample floor space

This pleco needs room to roam, claim territory, and feed properly. A wide tank is preferred over a tall one due to its bottom-dwelling nature.

🪨 Aquascape Tips

• Fine sand or smooth substrate

• Large driftwood pieces and vertical slate for hiding spots

• Flat rocks for resting

• Moderate flow — mimic river current

• Avoid sharp or unstable decorations

Titanic Plecos are territorial toward other plecos, so ensure they have their own “zones” to avoid conflict.

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💧 Water Parameters

Maintain excellent water quality with canister filtration or sumps. A weekly 30–50% water change is essential for health and coloration.

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🍽️ Feeding & Diet

Titanic Super Red Plecos are omnivorous with a heavy carnivorous preference. Their diet in captivity should include both protein and fiber to maintain their health and color.

✅ Best Foods:

• Hikari Massivore or Carnivore pellets

• Sinking shrimp or mussel wafers

• Frozen bloodworms, krill, or chopped seafood

• Zucchini, cucumber, and blanched spinach (supplemental)

• Driftwood for rasping (essential for digestion)

Feed once or twice daily. Remove leftovers to prevent ammonia buildup.

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🧠 Behavior & Personality

• Semi-aggressive, especially with other plecos

• Tolerates large fish if space is adequate

• Prefers dusk and nighttime activity but adjusts to feeding schedule

• Often claims a “zone” and patrols it actively

Titanic Plecos are bold and beautiful but require planning if kept with other bottom dwellers.

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👫 Tank Mate Compatibility

You can successfully house this pleco with large, peaceful fish or mid-water predators if there’s enough space and only one large pleco species.

✅ Suitable Tank Mates:

• Silver Dollars

• Large Geophagus species

• Severum Cichlids

• Polypterus

• Datnoids

• Arowana

• Monster community fish (non-aggressive)

❌ Avoid:

• Other Pseudacanthicus species

• Small or soft-bodied bottom dwellers

• Delicate catfish

• Small plecos that may be outcompeted or bullied

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🧬 Growth Rate & Development

• Reaches 12–13 inches within 2–3 years

• Growth rate slows after reaching 10+ inches

• Full coloration develops around 5–6 inches of size

• Wild-caught and F1 specimens show deepest red hues

To enhance coloration, feed krill- or astaxanthin-rich foods and maintain clean, oxygen-rich water.

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🌟 Unique Highlights

• Among the most vibrant L-number plecos

• Brilliant red-orange coloration rare in freshwater fish

• Highly sought after by serious aquascapers and pleco breeders

• Demands presence in monster tanks and custom aquariums

• Resembles a “dragon” pleco — powerful, elegant, and dominant

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💲 Why Buy Titanic Super Red Plecos from RobsAquatics.com?

• Imported from trusted Brazilian exporters

• Quarantined and trained to accept frozen/prepared food

• Live Arrival Guarantee + acclimation guidance

• Passionate support from experienced pleco keepers

• Limited availability — only premium specimens offered

Rob’s Aquatics is a top-tier supplier of exotic L-numbers, including rare morphs and wild-caught imports you won’t find elsewhere.

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🧠 Final Thoughts

The Titanic Super Red Pleco (L-273) is the pinnacle of pleco collecting — a fish that commands attention, brings intense color to your aquarium, and rewards proper care with long-term presence and strength.

Perfect for:

• Experienced pleco collectors

• Monster tank builders

• South American biotope enthusiasts

• Hobbyists seeking rare red coloration in bottom dwellers

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📢 Call to Action

👉 Order your Titanic Super Red Pleco (L-273) now at RobsAquatics.com and bring home one of the most spectacular freshwater plecos in the world.