Banded Leporinus
Leporinus fasciatus
The Banded Leporinus (Leporinus fasciatus) is a peaceful fish that's rewarding to keep. Give it a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons), water held at 68-82°F, and a pH of 6.5-7.5.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
South America
- South America
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Banded Leporinus Tank Setup
A tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons) works well. Keep the water at 68-82°F with a pH around 6.5-7.5, and set up both cover and open swimming space where they spend most of their time (Mid). They grow to around 27 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Banded Leporinus Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Banded Leporinus Tank Mates
The Banded Leporinus is peaceful, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 27 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Banded Leporinus Good for Beginners?
Care demand varies by line and setup. Match the care level to how often you actually test and change water.
Banded Leporinus - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Banded Leporinus need?
Banded Leporinus need a tank of at least 150 litres (40 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Banded Leporinus need?
Keep them at 68-82°F with a pH of 6.5-7.5, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Banded Leporinus eat?
Banded Leporinus are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Banded Leporinus good for beginners?
It depends on the setup. Match Banded Leporinus to how often you actually test water and perform maintenance.
Common mistakes with Banded Leporinus
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 150 litres (40 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Banded Leporinus
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
