Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus)

Ancistrus cirrhosus

The Ancistrus is the quintessential "sucker fish". Unlike true Plecos that grow into 50 cm monsters, it stays manageable (12-14 cm). Males develop fleshy tentacles on the snout, like a dense beard. It spends its life attached to glass and wood, efficiently scraping away green algae. However, a glaring beginner mistake is thinking it lives by eating trash or feces: it needs real vegetable food (zucchini) and, crucially, a real piece of natural driftwood to grate on to survive. Having bare skin, medications poison it.

Family: Loricariidae
Origin: Bacino del fiume Paraná, Sud America. Fiumi a corrente rapida, ricchi di legno sommerso.
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Temperature

22 °C - 27 °C

6 - 7.5

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

Bottom

Adult size

15 cm

Description

The Night Slasher (The Secret Weapon Futile Deaf Mute):

The Ancistrus is not defenseless. On the sides of its head (opercula) it has retractable tufts of odontodes (spikes as sharp as needles). If you put two males in a small tank, they will battle for territory. They will lash each other's faces by flicking these lateral spines open, causing fatal slashes. Never more than one male in less than 150 liters.

Care and observations

The Woodless Condemnation (Bowel Obstruction Futile Blind):

The very long intestine of the Ancistrus has evolved to process extremely hard fibers. If you set up an aquarium with plastic rocks, ceramic castles, and NO real wood, the fish will have no access to lignin. Without wood fibers, its intestine will shut down, swell, and the fish will die in excruciating spasms from intestinal occlusion. Inserting a real piece of bogwood or mopani wood is a BIOLOGICAL REQUIREMENT.

Fish profile

Temperament: Pacifico con altre specie, ma due maschi lotteranno ferocemente in vasche piccole.
Diet: Erbivoro/Vegetariano. Alghe, legni (lignina obbligatoria), zucchine sbollentate, wafer vegetali.
Tank level: Bottom
Adult size: 15 cm
GH: 2 dGH - 15 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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