Ancistrus sp. ( L144)

Loricariidae

See Ingo Seidel, "The identity of the common bristlenose"; also our discussion in Keeping and Breeding Ancistrus sp. (L144)

Loricariidae: from the Latin lorica (= corselet, alluring to the armoured thoracic area of the fish); Ancistrus: from the Greek angistron meaning hook), referring to the hooked interopercular odontes of the fish.  

 c. 13 cm TL.

Mature males have a "bushy" nose, i.e. soft tentacles growing on their snout. Females may also have some growths on the snout though these are nowhere near as thick and well pronounced as the male's. The fish has a golden yellow colouration which is accentuated when kept on an algae diet. It is distinguished from the albino morph of the common ancistrus by its black eyes.

Adult males have thick fleshy growths (tentacles) on the snout; a number of these tentacles split at the ends giving a forked appearance. Females do not usually have these tentacles; those that do have considerably smaller and thinner growths at the edge of the snout only. Males have a ridge in the snout starting from the middle of the eyes and ending at the edge of the snout. Males are overall bigger and more slender than the females who are chubbier around the middle of their body. 

It is reported that one individual was originally imported from Paraguay.

6-8

This ancistrus is considered to do well in lower temperatures (c. 23^oC). We have kept and successfully bred this fish in temperatures ranging from 25° C - 30° C.

The fish does well in a number of parameters, though we have observed best growth of young in medium hard, neutral water. 

Adults appear to be omnivores though a vegetable diet promotes favourable growth. Algae seems to be the preferred food. Some animal protein (bloodworms or good quality pellets) is advisable once or twice a week.

A peaceful fish, will do well with other small community fish. We keep our colonies in dedicated tanks.

Peaceful small and medium size fish is the obvious choice. If you plan to breed the fish make sure their tank mates will not hurt the wrigglers once they are out of the cave.

Soft wood (bogwood) is the obvious choice. Sand substrate is preferred. The fish will damage plants while rasping on the leaves.

The fish does not appear to grow large so a 100 lit tank for a colony of 5-8 fish is plenty and will ensure that each individual will have its own vital space. A pair can be comfortably kept in a 40 lit tank provided it has sufficient floor surface for the fish to move around.

This is one of the Ancistrus sp. that will often be seen grazing in the open, particularly if the tank is well lit and there is algae on the glass and the tank furniture. The fish will be constantly on the glass and the tank furniture grazing all day long. Good aquarium hygiene seems to be important.

It is often reported that some fry born to L144 parents have a brown blotch at some part of their body. This is usually attributed to the fact that a single amelanistic male (L144) was exported from Paraguay; this fish was subsequently spawned with a brown coloured female. The amelanistic females from this spawn were then backcrossed to fix the mutation. See our discussion.

Ancistrus will interbreed with congeners so it is important not to keep different species of the same genus together to avoid hybridization.

Our males have spawned inside pieces of wook and in clay caves.  For a breeding report see Keeping and Breeding Ancistrus L144.