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.
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.
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.
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.





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