Origin
Native to the Rio Tapajós basin in Brazil—particularly near Itaituba—where soft, acidic waters and submerged root systems dominate the habitat.

Visual & Functional Appeal
Alternating deep red and black bars run the length of its body, giving a bold contrast against driftwood and aquasoil. Compact and armored, it adds dynamic visual appeal without overwhelming a layout.

Purpose
Functions as a peaceful bottom-dweller and biofilm grazer. Helps clean surfaces and stabilize lower tank zones without disturbing delicate plants or scape structures.

Importance
Its color pattern and small size make it ideal for planted tanks and nano setups. Perfect for aquarists wanting a functional yet exotic showcase species.

Included Resources
Needs soft, warm water with good flow. Provide driftwood, leaf litter, and shaded hideouts. Moderate filtration and low nitrate levels are key. Does best in mature tanks with biofilm and microfauna.

Best Use Cases
Great for South American blackwater tanks, biotope aquascapes, or artistic nano layouts. Can be kept solo or in small pleco colonies with plenty of space.

Conservation Context
L-397 is under increasing pressure in the wild due to habitat degradation. Hobbyist demand is shifting toward captive-bred stock, which helps reduce wild harvest.

Ideal Aquatic Animals
• Ember tetras and green neons
• Corydoras and dwarf cichlids
• Apistogramma species
• Otocinclus and hatchetfish
• Peaceful rasboras or pencilfish

Region (A)
• Latitude: -4.2766° S
• Longitude: -55.9830° W
(Itaituba, Pará, Brazil – Tapajós River origin)

Region (B)
• Latitude: -3.4653° S
• Longitude: -62.2159° W
(Tefé region, Brazil – potential collection overlap)