Remarks: The Parnaibae sailfin pleco is possibly one of the most attractively patterned sailfin plecos known to the hobby. Their dark brown or black bodies and fins are covered in a mottled pattern of gold or tan striations and spots. Furthermore, they have endearing little "horns" on their nose and a very tall dorsal fin as is typical of their genus. This pleco is a fairly large species, sometimes reaching 15 inches in length, but most in captivity top out at around 12".

  In the wild, the Parnaibae sailfin pleco is only found in the Rio Parnaiba alongside the numerous other endemic species found there. Being omnivores, they will feed on anything from wood to fallen fruits, to vegetation, to insect larvae. They have proven to have quite the appetite like all sailfin plecos which results in lots of waste so frequent water changes are a must. Young specimens have a voracious appetite for algae so they can be great for cleanup in a smaller community tank until they grow large enough to go with bigger fish such as large, South American cichlids. With their thick armor and large size, they can protect themselves from these bigger, more boisterous fish.