Baryancistrus

Baryancistrus is a genus of freshwater Loricariid catfish. They inhabit regions of the Amazon river in countries such as Brazil and Venezuela.

Most Baryancistrus are differentiated from other related genera by a membrane connecting their dorsal fin and adipose fin, not present in most other genera.^[2]

The species of this genus are mainly herbivores and detritivores, but may take other foods too. Most have probably not been bred in captivity. It is difficult to sex these fish, including adult specimen. These fish are mainly nocturnal, but will also emerge from their hiding places during the day, after some time getting accustomed to the aquarium. They will benefit from plenty of hiding places.

Contents 1 Gold Nugget plecos 2 List of Baryancistrus sp. L-numbers 3 See also 4 References

Gold Nugget plecos

Baryancistrus includes the species Baryancistrus xanthellus. Catfish of this species are often referred to as Golden nuggets. They occur naturally in the Xingu River. They grow slowly. They are popular aquarium fish, though they demand a high water quality. The ideal temperature is 25–30 °C (77–86 °F), and the pH should be between 6,5 - 7,4.

There are three types of Gold Nuggets in the aquarium trade; L-018 (also known as L-085), L-081 and L-177. Whether these are separate species, or subspecies of a single one, has not yet been determined. The Golden nuggets are described with L-numbers in wait of a proper scientific classification.

• L-081 has small dots.
• L-018/L-085 has medium-sized dots.
• L-177 has large dots.

They are territorial toward other bottom dwellers.

List of Baryancistrus sp. L-numbers

Though there are many types of fish described as Baryancistrus, there are many that yet to be given a true scientific designation, and are only referred to under the L-number system, including the Gold Nuggets. Here is a list of Baryancistrus by L-number designation. The common name and scientific name are included when available, though some of these fish are only commonly referred to by their L-number. For those fish without a scientific name, they are assumed to be Baryancistrus sp.

L-number(s) or LDA	Common name(s)	Scientific name
L003	Kieser pleco
L018, L085	Gold Nugget pleco	Baryancistrus xanthellus
L019
L026		Baryancistrus niveatus
L047	Magnum pleco, Mango pleco
L057
L081	Gold Nugget pleco	Baryancistrus xanthellus
L084
L115, L248	Mega snowball pleco
L142, LDA33	Big White Spot pleco
L177	Iriri Gold Nugget pleco	Baryancistrus xanthellus
L200*		Baryancistrus demantoides
L219
L274
L293	Blue Panaque	Baryancistrus beggini
L319
L323
L324
L364
L384
LDA60	gold nugget	Baryancistrus xanthellus

* Note: L200 is also used to refer to Hemiancistrus subviridis, another Loricariid that is very similar in appearance.

See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

References

1. ^ "Baryancistrus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=679411. Retrieved May 5, 2007. 
2. ^ Werneke, David C.; Sabaj, Mark H.; Lujan, Nathan K.; Armbruster, Jonathan W. (2005). "Baryancistrus demantoides and Hemiancistrus subviridis, two new uniquely colored species of catfishes from Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)" (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology (Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia) 3 (4): 533–542. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252005000400011. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/participants/profiles/Sabaj/pdfs/Werneke_etal2005.pdf.