By Harith A.R.
Edited by Nadya R.
Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is famously known in Malay as “ikan bandaraya” and is one of the most popular fish pets that can be found in many households, especially in the context of Malaysia. Pleco is known to be very helpful in making sure the fish tank is kept nice and clean, as it feeds on leftovers, algae and any dirt on the bottom surface.
However, the plecos of their origin aren't native and cannot be found in Malaysia in the wild, but they were originally imported from tropical freshwater habitats in South America—especially in areas like the Amazon. They are considered a profoundly invasive species, known to eat algae in the surrounding area, and occupy many places that leave little to nothing for other fishes to eat.
How did Pleco arrive?
Plecos’ arrival in other continents is mostly unintended on its own, as it seeks to survive through any means necessary. Most of the time, it’s humans who are behind the cause. The biggest culprit among all the issues comes from the mass release of plecos into the local rivers and aquatic areas. In many cases, plecos can grow rapidly where they occupy most of the home aquariums. Instead of finding these fish new homes, they are released to places they do not belong, which are areas like local rivers, ponds, or lakes. However, their powerful adaptive bodies can assimilate with the places they were thrown into and survive there for as long as they can.
Why are plecos dangerous to the ecosystem?
Plecos can be very dangerous to the ecosystem in areas where it is not native due to many reasons. The first reason is that plecos are very efficient algae eaters. However, their extreme appetite causes many issues as they feed on and compete with other native fishes for food sources like algae, insect larvae, and small fish eggs.
Their fast-breeding nature and large growing population outcompete native species that play crucial roles in the ecosystem’s food chain. The domination of plecos in these areas causes other native fishes to deplete in their populations, which causes an imbalance in the ecosystem they live in.
What can be done to solve this?
The main issue goes to the irresponsible release of plecos into the wild, and therefore, aquarium owners must make sure to keep and contain plecos in places they cannot invade. They must make sure to rehome if they do not want to keep them.
Public awareness is also needed to ensure that the public knows and is educated about plecos’ invasive nature and its ecological impact. The authorities can conduct campaigns to educate aquarium owners, fishermen, and those who are interested in keeping plecos as pets.
Though plecos are invasive, it is us humans who are responsible for the consequences of our actions. We must work together to minimise the damage and keep these plecos from invading places they should not be in.
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