Bristlenose
Catfish Fact Sheet
Bristlenose Catfish are algae eating Catfish of the
genus Ancistrus. There are about 60 species in this genus and
it is uncertain which species the common aquarium Bristlenose catfish comes
from. It may be Ancistrus cirrhosus but
it is very likely to be a hybrid of two or more related species.
The Bristlenose Catfish species come from South
America, mostly from the tropics although some species are found
outside the actual tropics.
Size
Males grow to about 15cm (6 inches) while females get to a little less
than this at about 12 cm (5 inches).
Water
Conditions
The Bristlenose Catfish is quite flexible in its water
requirements. It can live in water
ranging from soft to hard, with a Gh range of from 2 to 20. Acid, neutral or alkaline pH all seem OK, although
I would not subject this fish to extremes.
Although this is a tropical fish, it is not very tolerant of high
temperatures. The generally recommended
temperature range is from 23 to 27 degrees C (73 to 81 degrees F). However, a prolonged temperature of 30 degrees
C (86 degrees F) will cause these fish to die while they seem happy at well
below the 23 degrees normally recommended minimum temperature. Personally I would suggest a lower
temperature than the upper part of the normally recommended range.
A water current from a power filter is a good idea. Avoid excessive levels of ammonia, nitrites
and nitrates.
Some aquarium safe wood is recommended.
Food
The Bristlenose Catfish is an omnivore with a preference for vegetable
matter. They are specialised for eating
algae, but this is not the only thing they eat.
This applies both in the wild and in an aquarium. When there is a film of algae growing on a
surface many other small organisms will live together with the algae. The algae together with the associated
organisms are referred to as aufwuchs.
In an aquarium, as well as the naturally growing
algae, these fish will eat normal fish food, especially algae wafers. Although they will eat high protein food like
frozen bloodworms, this is not a good idea for a major part of their diet. If they do not have enough fibre they can be
in trouble quickly.
They also like vegetables like Zucchini, Cucumber and
green Peas. Usually Bristlenose Catfish
do not eat aquarium plants, but will eat the algae and other things off the
leaves. I have heard of them eating
plants, but this appears to be a response to a lack of other food. I have never observed plant eating in this
species myself.
Companions
The Bristlenose Catfish in a very peaceful fish except
that the males are territorial. Two
males may fight, but I have never heard of a fatal encounter.
This fish can be kept with a very wide range of other
fish. They will not eat other fish,
except baby fish that are not free swimming.
I breed Bristlenose Catfish together with Guppies and have no trouble
between the two species. Even the newly born
baby Guppies are not molested by the Bristlenose Catfish.
At the other extreme, Bristlenose Catfish can be kept
with quite big and moderately aggressive fish without trouble.
Sexing
The males get the bristles on the centre of their head
while the females generally do not although they may get a few on the front of
the head, near their mouth.
Breeding
Bristlenose Catfish breed in caves; the males will
guard the eggs while they are hatching and the babies in the very early stages
hatching.
One male can breed with several females, and sometimes
may have more than one batch of eggs and babies in different stages of
development. One large female can
produce up to 200 eggs at one spawning.
The exact temperature does not seem to be critical for
breeding. In the breeding tank in our
shop I have set the thermostat at 20 degrees C (68 degrees F). They are breeding well. I would note that because of our climate and
the conditions in the shop that the temperature will average above the
thermostat setting.
Raising the
Fry
The males will guard the eggs and the babies until
they are free swimming. Even after the
fry are free swimming, the males, and possibly the females, will sometimes
chase other fish away from the babies. Partly because of this guarding
behaviour, they will sometimes breed successfully in community aquariums.
The babies are quite large for aquarium fish fry. As soon as they are free swimming they will
eat the same food as the parents.
Other Common
Names
The “Bristlenose Catfish” is also called the “Bushynose
Catfish”, the “Bristlenose Pleco” and the “Bushynose Pleco. The Pleco part of the name is because of
their relationship to the Pleco, or Plecostomus fish.
Identity
As mentioned earlier, the Bristlenose Catfish commonly
kept in aquariums are certainly of the genus Ancistrus, but the actual species
is uncertain. They may be Ancistrus cirrhosus,but the various species of the Ancistrus
genus readily hybridise, usually producing fertile young. It is very likely that there have been other
species crossed into the aquarium Bristlenose Catfish; perhaps including Ancistrus
pirareta from Paraguay,
Ancistrus multispinis from Brazil
or Ancistrus triradiatus from Columbia.
There is also no reason to assume that all the Bristlenose Catfish
around in aquariums and shops are of the same species or mixture and we cannot
even assume that all are interfertile.
Pest Fish
Do not allow any fish or other pet to escape into the wild. Even an apparently harmless creature can severely disrupt ecosystems.
Sources
The identity
of aquarium Bristlenose Catfish: http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=377
Aquarium
Industries Care Sheet.
http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=1940
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/fresh/catfish/bristlenose.php
