Scientific Name:
Ancistrus dolichopterus (Kner, 1854)
Common Names:
Starlight Bristlenose, White Seam Ancistrus L183
11.47 cm. (4.5 inches)
Distribution:
Brazil, Amazonas, Rio Negro (lower and middle course)
Tank:
A relatively spacious tank with much cover is appreciated, as is suitable filtration. Mild current is also recommended.
Temperature:
25.0-29.0°C or 77.0-84.2°F
pH:
5.5-7.0
Diet:
Vegetarian; feed with algae wafers, catfish chips, cucumber, zucchini, sweet potato and other green foods. This fish can be fed high protein foods sparingly, as is often the case when conditioning for spawning.
Sexing:
Sexing this fish is easy; as with all ancistrus, males develop fleshy protuburences (cutaneous processes) on their head--or better yet, "bristles". Females may get a few small bristles around the edge of the lip. Males also bear more noticeable odontodal growth.
Breeding:
These fish are easy to breed in captivity--provide a tight cave for the male, condition the female, and provide good water quality, and these fish will spawn regularly. However, they do necessitate relatively warm and most certainly soft water to induce spawning. Males can be quite dominant during and prior to spawning, and thus must be tended to if things should get out of hand.
Other info:
One of the more highly sought after of the genus, due ot its striking jet black coloration and bright white caudal and dorsal edges. Wild imports are generally quite intolerant of hardwater conditions, and, if kept in such, may require extensive acclimatization, but will generally fare relatively poorly. They spend much of their time hiding under pieces of driftwood, or in caves, unlike certain other members of the genus that are active and boisterous. Can be told apart from other ancistrus, especially other similarly hued individuals by dorsal ray count (at ten).
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