Bristlenose Pleco

fish description – Bristlenose Pleco Care Guide ($Ancistrus\ cf.\ cirrhosus$)

Category	Detail
Scientific Name	$Ancistrus\ cf.\ cirrhosus$ (or $Ancistrus\ sp.$)
Common Name	Bristlenose Pleco, Bushynose Catfish, Bushymouth Pleco
Origin	Amazon River Basin (South America)
Adult Size	4–5 inches (10–13 cm)
Temperament	Peaceful, generally solitary, nocturnal bottom-dweller (males territorial)
Lifespan	5–10 years
Care Level	Easy

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Appearance and Sexual Differences

 

• Short Description: A small, armored fish with a flattened, robust body and a large sucker mouth. It is the only type of pleco that stays a manageable size for most home aquariums. Its primary feature is the bristle-like appendages growing around the snout.
• Coloration: Varies widely by strain (Common is brown/grey spotted; Albino is pale yellow/pink). Males develop large, bushy bristles that cover the head. Females have few or no bristles, which remain small and are limited to the mouth area.
• Fins: Proportional, often blending with the body color.
• Behavior: Primarily nocturnal and generally peaceful toward other fish species. Males are highly territorial toward each other, particularly over a chosen spawning cave. They are voracious grazers, consuming algae and biofilm from all surfaces.

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Tank Requirements and Water Parameters

 

• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (75 liters) is the minimum for a single fish. 30 gallons or larger is recommended to accommodate a full-sized adult and necessary décor. A long tank is ideal.
• Schooling: Generally solitary. Should be kept singly, especially males, unless the tank is large and provides clear separation/territories for multiple fish.
• Temperature: Tropical range: $72^\circ$–$86^\circ\text{F}\ (22^\circ$–$30^\circ\text{C})$ (ideally $75^\circ$–$78^\circ\text{F}$).
• pH Level: Highly adaptable: 6.5 to 7.5. They are hardy but require consistent water stability. Moderate water flow and good oxygenation are beneficial.
• Aquascape: Driftwood (bogwood/roots) is mandatory as they must graze on the wood fiber (lignin) for proper digestion and intestinal health. Provide at least one dedicated spawning/hiding cave (e.g., ceramic cave, PVC pipe, or rock crevice). Substrate should be fine sand or smooth gravel to protect their barbels.

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Diet and Feeding

 

The Bristlenose Pleco is an herbivore/omnivore that requires a fiber-rich diet.

• Staple Diet: Diet should be heavy on vegetable matter ($\approx$ 80%). Offer sinking algae wafers and spirulina pellets daily.
• Supplementation: Must include fresh, blanched vegetables (e.g., zucchini slices, cucumber, shelled peas, spinach) regularly. Protein sources (bloodworms, brine shrimp) should be offered sparingly (15-20% of diet) to prevent digestive issues like bloat.
• Schedule: Feed once daily, preferably in the evening or at night, to ensure the nocturnal pleco gets its share without competition.

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Compatibility

 

• Caution: Males are territorial over their caves and may fight other male $Ancistrus$. Avoid large, aggressive fish that might bully them. Do not house with very slow, flat-bodied fish (like Goldfish or Discus) as they might try to rasp the fish’s slime coat.
• Good Tank Mates: Nearly all peaceful community fish, including Tetras, Danios, Rasboras, Corydoras catfish (other species), Gouramis, and most peaceful Cichlids. They are safe with most live plants.