Scientific Name
Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus add this species to your "My Cats" page.
Common Name(s)
Albino Bristlenose Catfish, Albino veiltail, Ancistrus sp(3), Bristlenose Catfish, Bushynose Catfish, Common Bristlenose Catfish, Piebald Bristlenose, Veiltail Bristlenose
Pronunciation
an SISS truss
Etymology
The name Ancistrus is derived from the Greek word agkistron , meaning hook, in reference to the interopercular odontodes that are hooked.
Size
Show near , nearer or same sized spp.
Identification
Mature males and sometimes females have soft tentacles (bushy fleshy growths) on the snout - this is unique to the genus Ancistrus . The common Bristlenose is commonly captive bred appears impossible to identify to species primarily due to a lack of original locality information but also because tens of undescribed congeners exist. It is not assigned to species here for that reason. It is sometimes thought to be a hybrid, however it is not easy to determine if it is so or not. Several man made variants exist: piebald, albino and long-fin (veiltail) varieties have been bred in a captivity.
Sexing
Males have head tentacles, females do not.
General Remarks
This species was known as Ancistrus sp(3) in the Cat-eLog from February 1997 until August 2008, it will likely still commonly be referred to under this name for some time and even its current designation is a little tentative. For these reasons we've left "sp(3)" as a common name.
Distribution
South America
pH
5.8 - 7.2
Temperature
21.5-26.5°C or 70.7-79.7°F (Show others )
Other Parameters
Relatively undemanding.
Feeding
It is thought that elements in bogwood, particularly lignin, may form an essential part of Bristlenose diet. Certainly they have the immensely long guts common to vegetarians, and although they fall avidly on the occasional meal of live food or prawns, the bulk of their diet must be composed of vegetable matter. If a high protein diet is fed constantly, then they will become prone to stomach disorders. Vegetable roughage keeps the gut in working order, and bogwood is a valuable addition to this.
Furniture
In the aquarium they prefer a strong water current with lots of oxygen, and require plenty of hiding places. Bogwood is ideal for this, as it is not only attractive to look at and provides plenty of shelter. Although they are vegetarian, they do not feed on water plants either naturally or in the aquarium, and your treasured collection of cryptocorynes will not only remain uneaten, but the Bristlenose will carefully and gently graze each leaf, removing any covering of algae that may form.
Compatibility
They are gentle and unassuming fish, and can be kept in community tanks with the most timid of inhabitants. Even tiny fry will be left unharmed once free-swimming.
Suggested Tankmates
All community fish, small to medium sized cichlids.
Breeding
See catfish of the month article.
"My Cats"
(1) discuscat , (2) discuscat , (3) MatsP , who also notes, "I started with one that turned out to be a female, then got a male, and now I don't know quite how many I've got. One hundred is probably a bit low.", (4) Birger , who also notes, "raised by myself", (5) synoguy , (6) DeepFriedIctalurus , who also notes, "albino male/albino longfin females....how anthropomorphic!", (7) natefrog , (8) Iwona , (9) Dick F. , (10) boyneburn , (11) mikey , (12) daniel60 , (13) Stephen , (14) CatBrat , (15) xingumike , (16) hoplo , (17) dewitt_discus , (18) ali12345 , (19) fish fodder , (20) Barbie , (21) plecoready , (22) Trident2004 , (23) vriesea , who also notes, "Bought 6 long fin albino from Mainly Cichlids. Had 5 albino that were bought over the past year. Have one full grown male (black) that has bred before. Bought 6 more long fin albino at auction ($22).", (24) Jools , (25) Lornek8 , (26) Argentum , (27) husky_jim , (28) bronzefry , (29) sherry44 , (30) amergim , (31) amergim , (32) livebearium , (33) bikerman6660 , (34) Travis_Conklin , (35) gage , (36) Henry Di Cristofano , (37) arabesque , (38) zhallam , (39) cats4me , (40) mattmccready , (41) Elspeth , (42) CatBrat , (43) drgold , (44) alenate , who also notes, "Breeding group", (45) call_apple , who also notes, "I've had 2 albino spawning and 2 calico spawning.
", (46) Foster9011 , who also notes, "Males have longer and more bristles than females. These fish come in a wide variaty of colors and types.I had two of these that I traded a clown pleco for, but one jumped out a day after I got it and my dog ate it. I have one 3 inch black and red female ancistrus. It lives a good life in my guppy tank with three peppered cory cats and some striped dw", (47) mikelouth , (48) NEONCORY , (49) stang1 , (50) azfisher , who also notes, "aLBINO VARIETY", (51) woofess , (52) pureplecs , who also notes, "Calico and Albino, long finned and short finned", (53) Topaztas , (54) petri , (55) Albinoblackcatfish , (56) VirgoWolf , (57) Blue , (58) ani-mal-lvr , (59) FuglyDragon , who also notes, "numerous spawns
Std and Albino / Golden", (60) foffo , (61) Daragh , who also notes, "3 adult males and 3 adult females. Young from egg to 6 months.", (62) apistomaster , who also notes, "Began breeding normal and albinos commercially 2004.", (63) fballguy , (64) Teelie , who also notes, "Have had one successful spawn with two adults but all fry eaten by tankmates (Clown Loaches, Red Tail Black Shark, Yo-yo Loaches) in a 55g. Going to give another try in a 40g breeder with more peaceful tankmates.", (65) Kenneth Wong , (66) certan , (67) mzavori , (68) Zigismund , who also notes, " Cool and easy fish breeds like rabbits!!", (69) Owch , (70) Cicolid , (71) jamos , (72) HylaChristine , (73) HylaChristine , (74) HylaChristine , (75) HylaChristine , (76) morkaren , (77) loafingloach , (78) Igowoof , (79) deathjelly , who also notes, "Acquired @ 1.5-2" long.", (80) artemis1 , (81) woofess , (82) killerklown , (83) smithrc , (84) Bobtailvw22 , (85) dixon1990 , (86) Tom88 , who also notes, "Very good at cleaning algae!", (87) dr_evil_01 , who also notes, "Piebald Variety", (88) Threefingers , (89) Allie72 , who also notes, "Breeding pair and fry", (90) gixir , (91) Darren C , (92) AngJo , (93) einstein-a-go-go , (94) bluenewt , (95) greigzee , (96) Bas Pels , (97) Revol , (98) matthi22004 , (99) anthony mcdonald , (100) Hammerhead , who also notes, "Both specimens are albino. The only ones to finally remove my brown algae.", (101) thebirdofprey , who also notes, "I raise albino longfins, calico regular fin, calico longfins and brown longfin bristlenose.", (102) Bengt F , (103) jjkolodz , (104) yogi69 , who also notes, "10 x long fin + 1 x common ancistrus", (105) Belial , (106) norms , (107) Psy , (108) Dan Steveo , (109) YSR50 , (110) Helmut , (111) rimbaudsarm , (112) unkaface , (113) Yannalau , (114) Yannalau , (115) holing007 , (116) Bigpig , (117) Invader_Kitty , (118) whiteymoza , (119) Carp37 , who also notes, "Over 240 juveniles sold on in last year but I'm still getting overrun with juveniles- currently occupying 3 tanks", (120) Lydia , (121) Selveste_Preben , (122) amcmaster , who also notes, "1 pair of common bristlenose breed first time 1/10/07 (34)
1 Male albino/common female pair
1 female albino bristlenose
1 male peppermint Bristlenose
3 longfin Bristlenose
Common pair have breed 4 times the up to 174 fry
", (123) Gopherboy , (124) Erlend D Bertelsen , (125) helshøj , (126) Caimenboy , (127) jollysue , who also notes, "lf dwarf albino (with fry) and abn, about 12 marbles", (128) invaderwithkey , (129) Snowy , who also notes, "20 brown Commons, 10 Albino ", (130) Walter , (131) kagal , (132) steelhorse , (133) Mrs.JP , (134) Plecofanatic1989 , (135) Smilingpiranha , (136) obik101 , (137) L127 , (138) goodmike , (139) krazyGeoff , (140) Joren56 , who also notes, "First bred : 21/06/2008", (141) KnaveTO , (142) corydoras , (143) fraggle , (144) glenny , (145) lizimal , (146) Firestorming , (147) cmfoggy , (148) pLaurent1251 , (149) Lightbringer , (150) tezr , who also notes, "Great small pleco", (151) PepperedGary , (152) Qaddiction , (153) therlinger , (154) nooneknows , (155) scouse_andy , (156) Suckermouth , (157) norfolkgarden , who also notes, "2 2.5inch male albinos and 1 4inch male pucipalla(?).
Great personality. The best pleco's for wandering the tank without fresh food being present! 2 2.5inch male albinos and 1 4inch male pucipalla(?).
Great personality. The best pleco's for wandering the tank without fresh food being present!", (158) limed , (159) limed , (160) limed , (161) limed , (162) limed , (163) Simian , (164) jb92 , (165) Troender , (166) Ghan , who also notes, "These fish are awesome great appearance with cool armoured plates. Very easy to breed, just brought large male and female, female was full of eggs when I brought her. A few slices of zuchinni and about a month later in a 2 month old tank and viola!", (167) CoryLoachFreak , (168) Cdn Glenwood , (169) Loracidlover , (170) myrheksa , (171) longstocking , (172) naturalart , (173) Scubaguy , (174) poel_19 , (175) poel_19 , (176) TrickyT , (177) TrickyT , (178) firenzenz , (179) synodontisjack , (180) fivespeed302 , (181) AleGer , (182) TheSpuDGuN , (183) Christine , who also notes, "This fish is a breed from my mom's tank. She is breeding the catfish. A nice fish, wich is active in daytime.", (184) knusperfunk , (185) lbriquet , (186) Dan Steveo , (187) uknavynigel , (188) uknavynigel , (189) uknavynigel , (190) uknavynigel , (191) uknavynigel , (192) uknavynigel , (193) rtw , (194) 55GReefer , (195) JohnB , (196) weisel , (197) ACMEexp , (198) miravns , (199) addictinganimal , (200) AU Chief , (201) MatsP , who also notes, "Two large albino's and some others are in this tank, for keeping it clean.", (202) MatsP , (203) MatsP , who also notes, "The sons/daughters of the pair I gave Richard B. Now all but two albino (male + female) sold.", (204) MatsP , who also notes, "Two babies, keeping the glass clean and growing out.", (205) MatsP , who also notes, "One albino Juvie growing out.", (206) Mandrake , (207) aledk85 , who also notes, "3 common
2 albino", (208) Suncoastscott , (209) Mariea , (210) daryn39 , (211) calsonic , (212) loachy_406 , who also notes, "Likes to eat most things, including the paint off the fake rock.", (213) joepleco , (214) Numbers , (215) worldwide73 , (216) Moosipher , who also notes, "Veiltail hybrid
", (217) oxdeleon , (218) aaalrust , (219) kabaltah , (220) Carp37 , who also notes, "Juveniles growing out from trio (1m 2f) in 30" tank- now about 2.75-3" SL", (221) shawntraviss , (222) Dongjin-Kang , (223) plumbob3VRK6J5 , (224) The Highlander , (225) The Highlander , (226) The Highlander , (227) DaveW , who also notes, "Growing out several calico longfin, some brown and some albino longfin. Couple of brown and albino shortfin for tank clearners also. Had some adults die off on me, one jumped and I had some water quality problems so lost most of my adults.", (228) Lubbe , (229) Tasplec , (230) iam1ru12 , who also notes, "Mine is an albino.", (231) JimHitchiner , (232) PGR , (233) River Dog , (234) zedogz , (235) zedogz , (236) zedogz , (237) glyde , (238) AimsPink , (239) koter73 , (240) djtonyel , (241) Piscis , (242) Piscis , (243) Bas Pels , (244) alexniemira , who also notes, "i have to many of these fish! >.>", (245) chalkvandam , (246) cathje , (247) Joeytoe , (248) Liam50LB , (249) speedy231278 , (250) blurock , (251) nashnut , (252) NewFishKeeper , (253) krb , (254) Clammage , (255) bert , (256) flowaz , (257) ray_c , (258) ray_c , (259) ray_c , (260) ray_c , (261) ray_c , (262) Nick44 , who also notes, "Adult Pair plus Juveniles (20 is a guess including a couple of Albino babies from the normal coloured parents)", (263) a2fishguy , (264) junaid , (265) Kingmickyb , who also notes, "Seem to be sensitive to something, maybe nitrates. The current pair are my last, if they die then i'll give up on ancistrus. It is possible that the previous ones were too small, less than 1 inch.", (266) BrownBullhead , (267) Marguarretthe , (268) Marguarretthe , (269) Marguarretthe , (270) retchub , (271) retchub , (272) retchub , (273) Blaarontjes , (274) Blaarontjes , (275) stratofish , (276) Sandtiger , (277) ranmasan , who also notes, "Some spotting towards the tail has become slightly larger in pattern, but still doesn't look like traditional cirrhosus (formerly resembled "Columbia" most closely). Very lively and active in tank :).", (278) munki , (279) munki , (280) evesonevo , who also notes, "4 are albinos
2 are "brazil" species", (281) Khalid , (282) s2man , (283) tophat665 , who also notes, "Mated pair in one tank, the other three males and one juvi each in other community tanks. Two of the males are albinos.", (284) Phoxinus , (285) smegforbrains , (286) smegforbrains , (287) p3purr , (288) Wgm , (289) Xplode , (290) ash104a , (291) theonetruepath , who also notes, "All albinos", (292) maxiho , (293) _Green_ , (294) fusco , (295) fishmosy , who also notes, "Breeding, with two spawns per month", (296) Juand15 , (297) Juand15 , (298) blufox , (299) gregs1443 , (300) unkaface , (301) unkaface , (302) fleahound , (303) ridley25 , (304) Tracey , (305) LRKeefer , (306) Breezer , (307) deviating , (308) fishbguy , (309) Lilia21 , (310) Reza.Sadri , (311) shaunypoo , who also notes, "Spawned approximately 40 fry, with about 1/4 albino. Father, fry, and breeding cave moved to temporary spawning tank.", (312) Static , (313) andycapdnz , (314) andycapdnz , (315) ahodge84 , (316) ahodge84 , (317) hotsauce48 , who also notes, "
likes hiding", (318) DrunkenPanda , (319) emperorted , (320) bennyvis , (321) luver_of_fish , (322) pbyrley , (323) neelhound , (324) AI27 , (325) DaveCF , (326) Wraith , (327) fischkringli , who also notes, "1 black male
1 brown male
1 albino female
1 orange unknown subadult
10 black juveniles
14 albino juveniles ", (328) sidguppy , (329) kaleidoskope , (330) maddrell , (331) carolynkline , (332) carolynkline , (333) redstallion02 , (334) Camaroahopp , (335) jo o , (336) anglerfishuk , (337) mgamer20o0 , (338) masterplan , (339) Mike C , (340) Richard B , who also notes, "Got from MatsP at the CSG convention. big pair went into a separate tank where they bred 2 Apr 09 40/60 albino split, 3rd spawning in June", (341) abnmommy , (342) abnmommy , (343) nomuken , (344) h2opleco , (345) timkel , (346) chalky76 , (347) Lakatu , (348) judeblackburn , (349) judeblackburn , who also notes, "albino ", (350) NINOOVCOV , (351) DrunkenPanda , (352) Bristlenose 94 , (353) tcmfish , (354) suprabiatch , (355) Chris5787 , (356) bigcatsrus , (357) djinn75 , (358) djinn75 , (359) djinn75 , (360) djinn75 , (361) jiapei , (362) AlaskanCorydoras , (363) AlaskanCorydoras , (364) aznfish , (365) Hitch , who also notes, "Calio shortfin", (366) mdfa.ca , (367) Cory_lover , (368) fishkeeper , (369) scalvinfish , (370) francistrus , (371) amt4470 , (372) ozarowana , (373) ozarowana , (374) DJ-don , who also notes, "My Males are very aggressive when any fish go near their cave. only certain females are allowed. Males also so seemed to chase off other bns or any other fish when near food too. too many fry to handle right now", (375) lokii_37 , (376) dr_philatelist , (377) miss_miriam_86 , (378) Greggyfest , (379) Raptor , (380) jeff@zina.com , (381) ucdxmisty , (382) jprp , (383) jprp , (384) Derzel , (385) flappinganimal , (386) leej24 , (387) gr8plecos , (388) Sumners83 , (389) raymond , (390) Lesley_B , (391) elle_1313 , (392) elle_1313 , (393) elle_1313 , (394) schoie , (395) lnumbers63 , who also notes, "2 albinos. The female I have had for over 2 years. The male is younger and have had him for about 6 months (as at 25/10/2009. Great fish to keep. They stand out against the wood in the tank and they are very much diurnal and not shy.", (396) stuart264 , (397) oli , (398) arcsb , (399) ayrtoninst , (400) niallborwell , (401) J-Lia , (402) Kyleonfire , who also notes, "Fantastic pleco. Great algae eater and all-around scavenger. My most recommended pleco.", (403) drpleco , (404) 2wheelsx2 , (405) 2wheelsx2 , (406) SilverFlame819 , who also notes, "1 also in 16 Hex tank, since his highness the leopard frog plec doesn't eat algae. Highly effective little cleaners. 2 of them stripped my 10-gallon algae-covered tank in only a few days.", (407) LowClassCC , (408) via_mala , (409) asxu , who also notes, "Had a batch of eggs layed on Christmas Day (2009), which have now hatched and are growing quite steadily - unsure of numbers yet.", (410) lethalcustoms00 , (411) lethalcustoms00 , (412) johnw63 , (413) d3n2 , (414) David Fnt , (415) ridley25 , (416) barneybulldog , (417) shazarna , (418) Persephone , (419) Ullopincrate , (420) Nx7 , (421) PeterUK , (422) WhiteLomu , (423) DJ-don , who also notes, "albino", (424) dpk2313 , (425) Industrial , (426) coelacanth , (427) fuzzytigerbird , (428) lhafvens , (429) Barracuda518 , (430) EHEIM~ADDICT , (431) EHEIM~ADDICT , (432) andy75 , (433) ocnluv13 , (434) mamoo , (435) stuart264 , (436) stuart264 , (437) stefanfischer , (438) tazscroggy , who also notes, "Phineas (Female)
Camo (Male)
Pinky (Albino Male)
Peaches (Albino Female", (439) 2wheelsx2 , (440) valladares , (441) d3n2 , who also notes, "albino", (442) shere khan , (443) ravyk , (444) Kestrix , (445) robert521 , (446) Tony , (447) Avinitlarge , (448) Avinitlarge , (449) rdp50734 , (450) Astrea , (451) cichlidman16yearsold , (452) d3n2 , (453) darkruse , (454) Chacidae , (455) xander , (456) satony , (457) hossma , (458) musilvr4eva , who also notes, "One albino longfin bristlenose and one bristlenose", (459) electrophyste , (460) mummymonkey , (461) TRD , who also notes, "Might be more than 10. There is both male and female and a variation of sizes from 2.5cm (1") up to 12-13cm (5"). If they breed I doubt any juveniles would survive since I got two polypterus senegalus albino in there too.", (462) TRD , (463) TRD , (464) mangopleco , (465) ChanggyChinggy , (466) theviper06 , who also notes, "Whitie", (467) TheFishGuy , (468) Ozcattie , (469) Melander , (470) Melander , (471) mattymodo , who also notes, "Just got these two of my aunt who's fish just breed like mad! Lovely wierd looking fish and their only kids.", (472) cpfc , (473) arthos , who also notes, "lovely fish, show itself a lot and she is a greant cleaner!", (474) Hansen .view all "My Cats" data for this species.
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Last Update
2010-06-06 13:46:55 (species record created: 2001-04-26 00:00:00)
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