Pseudacanthicus sp. (L452) • Loricariidae • Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Pseudacanthicus sp. (L452)
Common Name(s)	L452, Mustang Cactus Pleco
Pronunciation	SUE dah KAN thi cuss
Etymology	Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar (but different from) to Acanthicus.
Species Information
Size	320mm (12.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although very similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. Although imported for several years beforehand, this species was given an L-number in 2010.
Sexing	Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.
General Remarks	The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. With respect to coloration, this species closely resembles L097 and Pseudacanthicus sp. "Alenquer" from Brazil. They even share the same changes in coloration along maturation, but are easily told apart due to their differing body shape.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Ucayali drainage in Peru, Rio Tapiche close to Requena. Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali, Lower Ucayali, Tapiche (click on these areas to find other species found there) (Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)
pH	6.5 - 7.5
Temperature	25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show others within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet.
Furniture	A potentially large pleco that will need robust decoration in the tank. Fairly reclusive and will need cover to hide in. Care must be taken that no other inhabitants of the aquarium attempt to dispute ownership of this cover. This fish will fight for the territory and, with its array of spines and hooks, can cause serious damage.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.
Suggested Tankmates	The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with large, tough other fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus however are big messy carnivores, but, like all large plecos, produce vast amounts of waste and as such would require monumental filtration to house alongside non-catfish ''equals''. It is better to think of these catfish as the centerpiece fish and stock their aquarium with medium sized (preferably omnivorous) fish.
Breeding	Unknown although almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	(1) Juand15, (2) Hugo Martins, (3) Torb (k: 3). Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.
Breeding Reports	None.
Articles	- CotM 2012 September
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Last Update	2010 Sep 30 03:47 (species record created: 2002 May 19 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Pseudacanthicus sp. (L452)

Common Name(s)

L452, Mustang Cactus Pleco

Pronunciation

SUE dah KAN thi cuss

Etymology

Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar (but different from) to Acanthicus.

Species Information

Size

320mm (12.6") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although very similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. Although imported for several years beforehand, this species was given an L-number in 2010.

Sexing

Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.

General Remarks

The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. With respect to coloration, this species closely resembles L097 and Pseudacanthicus sp. "Alenquer" from Brazil. They even share the same changes in coloration along maturation, but are easily told apart due to their differing body shape.

Habitat Information

Distribution

South America: Ucayali drainage in Peru, Rio Tapiche close to Requena.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali, Lower Ucayali, Tapiche (click on these areas to find other species found there)

(Click the map-icon to show/hide map of species distribution)

6.5 - 7.5

Temperature

25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet.

Furniture

A potentially large pleco that will need robust decoration in the tank. Fairly reclusive and will need cover to hide in. Care must be taken that no other inhabitants of the aquarium attempt to dispute ownership of this cover. This fish will fight for the territory and, with its array of spines and hooks, can cause serious damage.

Compatibility

Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.

Suggested Tankmates

The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with large, tough other fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus however are big messy carnivores, but, like all large plecos, produce vast amounts of waste and as such would require monumental filtration to house alongside non-catfish ''equals''. It is better to think of these catfish as the centerpiece fish and stock their aquarium with medium sized (preferably omnivorous) fish.

Breeding

Unknown although almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.

Further Information

Registered Keepers

(1) Juand15, (2) Hugo Martins, (3) Torb (k: 3).

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Breeding Reports

None.

Articles