Ancistrus
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 A young male Ancistrus, without fully-grown bristles.
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Ancistrus is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, the type species is Ancistrus cirrhosus[1]. Fishes of this genus are commonly known as the bushynose or bristlenose plecs.
Ancistrus species show all the typical features of the Loricariidae, distinctive features include lack of odontodae along the snout, evertable cheek odontodes with a curled end (not unlike the hooks in Velcro). In comparison with a typical plec, a bristlenose is typically shorter (15 cm or less), more flattened and fatter with a comparatively wider head. The feature most commonly associated with the genus - fleshy tentacles on the head - is only found in adult males, females may possess tentacles along the snout margin but they are smaller and they lack tentacles on the head.[2]Colouration is typically mottled brown, grey or black. Small white or yellow spots are common.
They found throughout rivers and floodplain areas of the Amazon River in South America.
The diet of this genus is typical for a Loricariid - algae and aufwuchs. Bristlenoses do not school but hide when not feeding, juveniles however are typically found in brightly lit shallows at the water margin making them susceptible to predation by birds.
Breeding takes place in hollows, caves and mud holes in banks. Females lay the eggs and the males guard them until they hatch and whilst the fry are absorbing the egg sac. A male bristlenose may guard several clutches of eggs simultaneously and it has been suggested that the tentacles may act as a fry mimic to attract females[3] or may exude a substance that supplements the frys diet.
The name ancistrus derives from the Greek 'agkistron' meaning hook - a refernence to the form of the cheek odontodes. The genera Pristiancistrus, Thysanocara and Xenocara are now synonyms of Ancistrus.
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[edit] In the aquarium
These fish are often kept by aquarists as they are dutiful algae-eaters and smaller in adult size than the common plecos usually seen in petshops. They are hardy animals, tolerant to a wide range of water conditions, breeding easily in captivity, compatible with most other freshwater fish, and come in many beautiful colors and patterns.
Historically commonly available species of Ancistrus were Ancistrus dolichopterus and Ancistrus temminckii, other species are now available though exact identification is difficult.
Size is up to 15 cm (male), 12 cm (female), recommended temperature 23-27 degrees Celsius, lifespan up to 12 years. Feeding is easy, bristlenoses will graze on algae and other surface growing organisms as well as eating algae wafers or tablets, flake food, squash, spinach, cucumber, zucchini, green beans and peas.
Breeding is also possible: Males attract female to small cave or hollow, then guard eggs after fertilization through hatching (4-8 days) until fry are free swimming (4-6 days after hatching), the aquarist need only supply a suitable cave, food, and one of each sex. Like other plecs benefit from the addition of bogwood, which they will rasp at and use as a hiding place - in the absence of other plant matter (sources of fibre) wood may be essential to the survival of these fish in the aquarium when fed on typical high protein fish food.[4]
Caution should be taken with the spines (odontodes) - although the risk of personal injury is small with this genus the hooked nature of the odontodes means that a bristlenose may become trapped in non-natural material such as sponge filters and netting.
[edit] Species
The genus Ancistrus includes at least 59 named species[2]. Unnamed Loricarrids are typically identified by an L-number and may continue to be so identified (especially outside academic circles).
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[edit] External links
- Planetcatfish.com - Thumbnails of Ancistrus species
- ITIS Listing for Ancistrus
- How to Keep Bristlenose Plecostomids
- Ancistrinae Internet Lecture by Ingo Seidel (translated from the German) Detailed article on the tribe Ancistrini containing this genus with relevance to fishkeeping and breeding.
[edit] References
- ^ "ancistrus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 05 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
- ^ a b J.W. Armbruster. Ancistrus (Kner, 1854).
- ^ M.H. Sabaj, J.W. Armbruster and L.M. Page (1999). "Spawning in Ancistrus with comments on the evolution of snout tentacles as a novel reproductive strategy: larval mimicry". Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters.
- ^ Shane Linder. An introduction to the bushy nose plecos of the genus Ancistrus. planetcatfish.com.
