Description
Hypostomus luteus – Phase One
Latin name: Hypostomus luteus
The Hypostomus luteus – Phase One is a spectacular and highly sought-after colour form of the Golden Pleco, prized for its rich golden-yellow body and bold, robust appearance. Native to southern Brazil, this impressive pleco is renowned for its hardiness, striking colouration, and commanding presence, making it a true showpiece in large freshwater aquariums.
Care Information
- Adult Size: 35–45 cm
- Temperature: 22–28°C
- pH: 6.5–7.8
- Tank Size: Minimum 600 litres
- Diet: Omnivorous — high-quality sinking pellets, algae wafers, fresh vegetables, driftwood, and occasional frozen foods such as shrimp or mussel
- Temperament: Generally peaceful but can become territorial towards other large plecos as it matures
- Tank Setup: Large aquarium with driftwood, spacious caves, rounded rocks, strong filtration, high oxygen levels, and moderate to fast water flow
Why Choose Hypostomus luteus – Phase One?
- Spectacular colour transformation: As the fish matures, it naturally progresses from Phase One into Phase Two, before eventually reaching the highly prized Phase Three, where it develops an incredible deep orange and gold colouration.
- Impressive centrepiece fish: Develops into a powerful and commanding display specimen.
- Hardy and long-lived: Thrives in spacious, well-maintained aquariums.
- Highly sought-after: A prized species among pleco enthusiasts and collectors.
- Full of character: Intelligent, active, and rewarding to keep.
The Hypostomus luteus – Phase One is an exceptional choice for experienced aquarists looking for a rare pleco that becomes even more spectacular with age, culminating in the breathtaking Phase Three colouration of vibrant orange and gold.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery from £15 - £30
- Range 0-25 miles from store
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DX Express: 1 working day, same-day dispatch before noon 0-75kg
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days 75-500kg
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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