Calico Bristlenose Pleco

Ancistrus spec. LDA 16, also known as Calico Bristlenose Pleco or Super Red Bristlenose Pleco, has its original habitat in the Amazon in South America and belongs to the family of plecos. Its habitat is mainly fast-flowing, oxygen-rich waters. This fish, up to 15cm in size, not only impresses with its beautiful coloring, but is also robust and easy to care for. The basic color of the Calico Bristlenose Pleco is a red-orange and, depending on the animal, brown spots can be seen to a greater or lesser extent, which form a pretty marble pattern. Characteristic and eponymous for bristlenose plecos are the bristle-like projections on the head and mouth, which are particularly pronounced in males.

Care in the aquarium

The Calico Bristlenose Pleco’s aquarium should have a capacity of at least 100 liters and must be equipped with lots of woody roots, as the cellulose contained in it is needed for the pleco’s digestion and it constantly scrapes it off. Dense edge planting, additional shelter options in the form of pleco caves or stone structures as well as light that is not too bright ensure the well-being of the fish. When it comes to water hardness, the Calico Bristlenose Pleco doesn’t have any high demands – it tolerates both soft and relatively hard water well. It is important that the water is clean and rich in oxygen and ideally has a moderate to slightly strong current. It is best kept in pairs, but single or harem keeping with a surplus of females is also possible without any problems, as this fish does not necessarily require the presence of other members of its species and does not form permanent pairs. The extremely peaceful catfish can also be socialized very well with other peaceful species.

Feeding

Typical of fish of the genus Ancistrus, the Calico Bristlenose Pleco is a limnivore that feeds on algae and biofilm, but is not a pure vegetarian. If your tank does not have enough green algae cushion, additional food must be supplied in the form of food tablets or green fodder, for example. Sinking live and frozen food, such as shineworms or Tubifex, can also be given occasionally.

Sexual characteristics and breeding

From a body size of around 5cm, the sexes of the Calico Bristlenose Pleco can be distinguished. At this point in time, the males develop their “bristles”, which are significantly longer than those of the females, in which these extensions are only small stubs or can sometimes even be completely missing. Breeding Ancistrus in an aquarium is not difficult. This species is a cave breeder whose clutches can consist of up to 60 eggs. The clutch is guarded by the male until the offspring hatch. This occurs after about 5 days and after about 5 more days, when the yolk sac has been completely consumed, the young fish leave the breeding cavity to search for food on their own.