Peckoltia sp. L15
L15 is another Xingu representative in the hobby. It's a nice Peckoltia species with dark bands over a pale yellow body. It's an easy to keep fish, as long as warm, oxygen rich water is provided. It's allowed for export from Brazil, and has proven to be quite easy to breed in captivity under the right circumstances. It may be a little more drab than it's more desired sister-species P.compta (L134), but L15 is still a very nice alternative for the Pleco enthusiast.
Facts:
Name: Peckoltia sp. “L15”
Trade names: L15, Candy Stripe Pleco
Origin: Rio Xingu, Brazil
Maximum TL: 12 cm / 5''
L15 is an omnivore, so a varied diet is required. After a period of maintenance and conditioning the fish are easy to breed. Clean, warm water with good movement and a tank furnished with decent caves and other hiding places makes the fish feel relaxed, and the males will show off some impressive odontodal growth on their flanks. 10-50 eggs are laid in tight caves where the male guards them.
There are several Peckoltia species from nearby rivers that look quite similar to L15. L140 and L214 from Rio Tapajos, L9/49 from Rio Tocantins and Rio do Pará, and L288 from Rio Curua-Una are all very similar, and can be hard to tell apart. They vary in their colour intensity and base colour, but not in basic looks. If you don't know the origin of the specimens on offer, they will be near impossible to identify with 100% certainty. As a general rule, L15 is usually more contrast rich in it's colouration than L9/49 and L214. L288 is slightly more orange in it's base colour. L140 is perhaps the same as L15, they look pretty much identical but come from different rivers.
L15 is often labelled Peckoltia vittata, but the original description is too inaccurate to tell which of these similar Peckoltia forms it may refer to.
More info:
http://www.l-welse.com/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/24/cat/32
http://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=75