L128 Blue Phantom Pleco
- Low stock - 1 item left
- Inventory on the way
- Live Arrival Guarantee
- All our live fish, shrimp, snails are care with love and passion, when through minimum of 14 days quarantined and shipped from Splashy Fish facility in Springfield, Virginia, USA
This is only apply to live fish order.
What is Our Live Arrival Guarantee?
Benefit from our extensive experience in shipping live fish. In 2021, our records indicated a mere 0.5% dead-on-arrival (DOA) rate for all live fish orders, compared to the industry standard of 1.5%. These numbers translate to only 5 out of 1000 orders experiencing DOA fish.
At Splashy Fish, customer satisfaction is our priority. That's why we provide a 100% Live Arrival Guarantee on all animals shipped via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Please note - Splashy Fish reserves the right to void Live Arrival Guarantee protection under the following circumstances:
- The customer has chosen USPS First Class Mail as a shipping method.
- The shipping address is a PO Box address
- The order was refused delivery by the customer.
- If the order is returned to the sender for any reason. For instance, an incorrect shipping address, an undeliverable address, etc.
- The order was held for pick up at USPS, UPS, and FedEx offices for longer than 24 hours after the last update on the tracking number.
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not include all the requirements mentioned below
- The Live Arrival Guarantee claim is made after the claim period mentioned below.
- The animals are not in their original packaging
Live Arrival Guarantee Claim Period:
For Live Fish and other invertebrates, one and a half hours (1.5 hours) after the posted delivery time.
For Snails: 48 hours after the posted delivery time.
Steps to claim Splashy Fish's Live Arrival Guarantee:
- Take a picture of the shipping box and the shipping label.
- For live fish and other invertebrates: Please provide two pictures of each bag (containing the dead fish) upon arrival. Ensure the images display the bag in its original, unopened condition with the original rubber band intact
- For Snails: Position the snail in one corner of the tank. If the snail does not move within 48 hours, please take several pictures of the snail's opening
- Send an email to DOA@splashyfishstore.com with the subject line: DOA and Your Order Number, or message us on social media.
- In the body of the email, include your tracking number.
- The claim must be sent within the claim period mentioned above.
After submitting the required information, please allow us 1-3 business days to determine the cause of the issue. If the claim is valid and approved by our team, you will
- Receive a store credit for future purchases, excluding the shipping cost, of the dead-on-arrival fish
If the Live Arrival Guarantee claim does not meet all listed requirements, Splashy Fish reserves the right to reject it.
Shipping live animals and plants is a complex process, and temperature plays a crucial role in ensuring the safe and secure delivery of your order.
If the highest daytime temperature in your location and the lowest nighttime temperature here in Springfield, Virginia—where our facility is situated—fall below 40°F or exceed 90°F, we will proactively delay your order. This measure is taken to prioritize the well-being of the animals and plants.
For the safety of our living cargo and to protect your investment, we retain the right to suspend shipping as necessary due to extreme weather conditions. Our Splashy Fish team will assess the situation and determine if it is unsuitable to ship, considering the safety of the animals.
To stay informed or address any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to our dedicated Splashy Fish Support team via email at support@splashyfishstore.com.
Once our team prints and packs your order, we'll notify you via email. This notification will include your tracking number and the expected arrival day. If you opt for UPS 2 Day shipping, your package should arrive within 2 days after shipment. Similarly, if you choose UPS 1 Day, your order will reach you the day after it is shipped. In the case of orders containing only plants or dry goods, they may be shipped via USPS, provided that this is the selected shipping option during checkout.
We ship all of the customer orders from our warehouse located in Springfield, VA. We pack and ship our orders depending on the orders with the exception of someday we cannot ship out live fish.
All Orders: will be shipped out from Monday to Thursday each week for overnight shipping by UPS.
Sunday: (Splashy Day) Today is the day we let our hard-working team members and our fish to destress and ready for the following week's shipment.
For more information regarding about shipping please visit us our Shipping Policy and Schedule
Elevate your aquarium with the breathtaking Blue Phantom Pleco (Hemiancistrus sp. L128), one of the most vibrant and sought-after phantom pleco varieties in the hobby. Also known as the blue pleco, L128 blue phantom pleco, or simply phantom pleco, this species is prized for its electric blue coloration, gentle temperament, and efficient algae-grazing abilities. Perfect for both beginner and experienced aquarists, the blue phantom pleco adds true “wow” factor to any planted or river-style community tank.
Native to the fast-flowing, rocky tributaries of the Rio Orinoco in Venezuela, the Blue Phantom Pleco is well-adapted to clean, highly oxygenated waters. Their gorgeous blue bodies are speckled with small white to light blue spots, making them stand out among other Plecos. Their coloration can intensify depending on lighting, water quality, and overall health, making them a showpiece for dedicated aquarists.
Blue Phantom Pleco size typically reaches 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) as an adult in home aquariums. Juveniles start out smaller but grow steadily with proper care. Their streamlined body, beautiful color, and distinctive spotted pattern make them a focal point in mid-to-large-sized aquariums.
The L128 blue phantom pleco is peaceful and generally keeps to itself, spending most of its time grazing algae on rocks, driftwood, and glass or resting in shaded crevices. Blue plecos are suitable for community tanks with other peaceful fish such as Tetras, Rasboras, Rainbowfish, Angelfish, and non-aggressive Cichlids. Avoid keeping them with aggressive or very territorial bottom dwellers, and always provide plenty of hiding spots and driftwood to mimic their natural habitat.
At our Splashy Fish tropical fish store, our Blue Phantom Pleco for sale and other freshwater fish for sale are carefully selected and packed with love! Visit us to buy them online or at our aquarium store in Virginia for more betta fish for sale, freshwater shrimp for sale, live aquatic plants for sale, and aquarium supplies.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM THIS FISH:
- Stunning electric blue coloration with unique white spotting
- Reaches 6–8 inches, which is ideal for medium and large aquariums
- Peaceful algae grazer and compatible with most community fish
- Hardy, adaptable, and long-lived with proper care
- Perfect for aquascaped and river-style tanks
RECOMMENDED TANK PARAMETERS:
- Tank Size: Minimum 40 gallons for an adult
- Temperature: 74°–82°F (23°–28°C)
- pH: 6.0–7.5
- Hardness: 5–15 dGH
- Filtration: Strong, with high oxygenation and moderate-to-high flow
CARE GUIDELINES:
- Diet: Omnivorous. Feed a balanced diet of high-quality sinking wafers, algae pellets, blanched vegetables (zucchini, spinach, cucumber), and occasional protein foods like bloodworms or shrimp. They also graze on algae and biofilm in the tank.
- Tank Setup: Use smooth rocks, driftwood, caves, and shaded hiding places to replicate their natural river habitat. Maintain strong filtration, regular water changes, and high oxygenation for best health and color.
- Behavior: Mostly nocturnal but will venture out during the day in a secure, well-aquascaped tank.
- Tankmates: Peaceful community fish are ideal. Avoid large, aggressive, or territorial bottom dwellers to reduce stress.
Blue Phantom Pleco Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to breed Blue Phantom Pleco?
Breeding Blue Phantom Plecos in the home aquarium can be challenging, as they require very specific conditions to spawn. Successful breeding typically involves a mature pair, warm and highly oxygenated water (around 80–82°F), strong water flow, and a diet rich in high-quality proteins. Provide plenty of caves or tubular hiding spots, as plecos are cave spawners. A large water change or a simulated rainy season may help trigger breeding. After spawning, the male will guard the eggs until they hatch. Many hobbyists have difficulty breeding blue phantom plecos at home, so most available specimens are wild-caught.
What is the lifespan of Blue Phantom Pleco?
With proper care, Blue Phantom Plecos can live for 8 to 12 years in a home aquarium. Maintaining excellent water quality, a spacious tank, and a balanced diet are essential to help these plecos reach their full lifespan. Regular water changes, strong filtration, and plenty of hiding spots contribute to a long, healthy life.
Are Blue Phantom Pleco rare?
Yes, Blue Phantom Plecos are considered rare in the aquarium hobby. Most specimens are wild-caught from specific regions in Venezuela, and they are not as commonly available as other pleco species. Their striking electric blue coloration and limited natural range make them highly sought after by aquarists and collectors.
