Scientific Name

Hypancistrus sp. (L004)  , 1988     

Common Name(s)

Angelicus Pleco, L004, L005, L028, L073, Portel Angelicus Pleco

Type Locality

L004 & L005: Rio Tocantins at Cametá
L028:Guamá by Ourem
L073:Portel at the Rio Do Pará.

Pronunciation

hype an siss truss

Etymology

A contraction of the Greek hypo (meaning less than) and ancistrus, an allusion to the reduced number of teeth (particularly in the lower jaw) found in this genus. 

Size

100mm (3.9") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

Often referred to by the trade name of ''Peckoltia angelicus'' which is not a valid scientific label. This is a small, attractively patterned species. The white spots adorning this species are medium sized and well spaced out. L004 is the juvenile phase of L005 (which has slightly smaller spots - still well spaced out) and also L028 and L073. Even if it is not a big Loricariid, it has a rather massive appearance.

Sexing

Male in breeding condition have odontodes (~2mm) on the plate on the body. Odontodes on pectoral are bigger on male, dominant males have long interopercular odontodes which is not the case with submissive male, in which interopercular odontodes are barely bigger than those on the female. Females are more rounder in the ventral region when viewed from above.

Distribution

L004 & L005 : Brazil: Rio Tocantins at Cametá
L028 : Brazil : Guamá by Ourem
L073 : Brazil : Portel at the Rio Do Pará, Pará.
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Pará, Guamá (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Pará (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)

pH

6.6 - 7.6

Temperature

22.0-28.0°C or 71.6-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Nitrates as low as possible, nitrites=0. As much oxygenation as possible.

Feeding

Blood worms (live or frozen), brineshrimp, gammares. Tablets: common and with spirulina. Vegetables are hardly taken!

Furniture

A lot of caves made of slate plates and bamboo. Caves have to be just a bit bigger than the fish so he can squeeze himself in it in case of danger Driftwood, fine sand, not too bright light. Plants can be kept with them as they don't touch them!

Compatibility

Fairly territorial towards conspecifics and other Loricariids.

Breeding

Females lay about 45 eggs in a cave guarded by the male. The eggs hatch after 8 days. The young absorb the yolk sac in about 18 days. After this time the young usually stay in the cave and venture a bit at night, they are not kicked out by the male but he does not provide any protection as the male goes out to search for food and let the young unguard, they will benefit from the protection when he comes back. The male does not disallow the young to go in or out as he does when they are still absorbing the yolk sac.

References

Ann. Wien. Mus. Naturges.v. 1 (no. 1) - pp25

Registered Keepers

(1) Yann, who also notes: "My first fancy Loricariidae I had managed to breed, read the article on the Shane's world section", (2) Ak Viking, (3) alga (k: 2), (4) stinger, (5) gupebreedr (k: 5), who also notes: "Obtained 5 adults from a well known wholesalers here in Florida. Sexes unknown at time of purchase, however I beleive there is a least one male in the group. Currently housed in a 29 gal tank with drift wood and caves. Sand bottom. Spawned 7/8/07.", (6) henryrus, (7) DAWN, (8) Freakdaddy, (9) Selveste_Preben, (10) LUISGOREY, (11) TrickyT, (12) djtonyel (k: 54), (13) desideriumrex, (14) alexniemira, who also notes: "its called bob! my first catfish :D", (15) Birger Amundsen, (16) royaldragoness, (17) dddolphin, (18) munchkin13 (p: 3), (19) Billybob, (20) jha61 (p: 2), (21) claro, (22) gr8plecos, (23) NC24, (24) Firestorming (k: 3), who also notes: "Looks very much like L201 as juveniles. Mine range from 3-4cm", (25) Mazzi, (26) bigbird (k: 6), (27) smitty, (28) Lars Jamne (p: 2, k: 6), who also notes: "F1", (29) johannes (p: 2).

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Breeding Reports

None.

More Resources

- Shane's World Reproduction L28, an undescribed species of Hypancistrus from the Rio Guamá
- Search Planet Catfish for more on Hypancistrus sp. (L004)
- BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
- Look up Hypancistrus sp. (L004) on AquaticRepublic.com
- Look up Hypancistrus sp. (L004) on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
- URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)

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Last Update

2006 Jan 28 00:00 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)