Ancistrus Peppermint BN..L181...

Ancistrus sp.: Peppermint BN..L181...aka....L071 and L249...
Very easily confused with L183 Ancistrus dolichopterus





Fish Statistics


Minimum Tank Size: 100L (26 US Gal)( 21.649 528 8 UK Gal)

Diet: Omnivorous, In the wild, it feeds mainly on algae, The Peppermint Bn should not be forced to live on natural algae growth only in the aquarium - always supplement with algae based prepared foods and fresh vegetables. also needs wood

Origin: Continent of South America,

Origin country: Brazil .L071 from the Rio Tapajos, L 181 from the Rio Tefe as well as L249 from the Rio Trombetas, we are talking about the same species. All of these places of origin & some not mentioned, are in the area of the middle to lower Amazon and are of clear or black water types with soft acidic water chemistry.

Temp: (C): 23 °C (73.4 °F) - 28 °C (78.8 °F)

Max Size: 15/20cms
At 10-12 cm long young males already show a good growth of tentacles and appear therefore to be already sexually mature. In aquarium conditions the fish often stop growing at 12-13cm, Grown in optimum conditions they can reach 18cm.

Family: Loricariidae

Temperament: Peaceful.

pH: tolerating 5.0- 6.5

Care Level: Relatively easy..

Life span: 10 years

Sexing: Males develop bristles on their nose and around the mouth. Females either have no bristles, or they are not as well developed as those of the male.
The dorsal fin of this species is supported by 7-8 soft rays


Photos are of Australian Juveniles..They lose the white edging on tail and Dorsal fin...sometimes they keep a small tail tip of white.

Especialy Curby,
                        I have 3 LO 59 and two peppermint, the LO59's have really out grown the pep's and whilst a trio of cory cats where spawning two of the 59's went mad and did all sorts of things in the tank, they look a pair and are about 3" long, are they big enough to breed. My standard brown Brisis have spawned twice and i have a mixture of albino and plain, and they are about the same size as the 59;s, The peppermint are 1 /1/2" and 2" and the small one has prominant bristles.
Regards Terry.