Ancistrus
claro Knaack, 1999 |
new kid on the block, so to speak, is this small pretty
Ancistrus from the Rio Claro in the Mato Grosso area on
the South Western tip of Brazil. You will find this species in the
Aqualog all L-Numbers as LDA08 and was first imported into Germany
in 1993 and subsequently was given this moniker by the German publication
"Das Aquarium". The holotype resides in the Berlin Zoological
Museum.
The common name of the "Gold Marble Bristlenose
Catfish" is I think a bit misleading as if you have ever kept
this species they change colour on a regular basis, whether they
are resting on the substrate, on a piece of wood or rockwork. They
seem to take their colouration from their surroundings and a better
common name would be " The Chameleon Bristlenose Catfish"
As mentioned earlier, they reside in the Rio Claro and the type
locality mentions "above the bridge in the direction of Chappada
dos Guimaraes", this is not not far from the town of Cuiaba
. It has been collected in the Coxipo River and other western tributaries
and the Copixo is the area that is stated in the type locality.
Its habitats consist of fast flowing waters with little vegetation
among and under rocks.
This description of its habitat gives us an insight on how best
to keep this species, providing plenty of water movement and caves/pipes
with plant life only as a personal addition to the aquarium.
The above picture shows a young pair
with the male to the front with the marble markings to the body
and head area. The female is darker and has more of a spotted pattern
and has small bristles compared to the young male who will eventually
sport the more traditional male Ancistrus head dress of
larger and branched bristles.
This is an Ancistrus species which you will see quite often
during the day, either clamped to the tank walls or sitting on or
underneath their favourite position of flat stonework.
Click on the thumbnails below for further images.
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Male in in one of its favourite positions
of rock clinging. |
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Taking on the colouration of the flat stone. |
 |
Showing the mouth structure |
Typical Ancistrus shape with both
sexes sporting bristles to the head area with the male having the
larger and more impressive tentacles.
Base colour of brown with gold marble reticulations
in the male. The female has a darker colouration which comprises
of a more dotted pattern. Both sexes have banding to the caudal,
dorsal and pectoral fins and a white ventral region.
Quite an easy species to keep as long as there
is adequate aeration in the aquarium and giving them a choice of
pipes, stones or rockwork.
As per the Ancistrus family in neutral
to mildly alkaline water. Will spawn in caves/pipes and the eggs
are yellow, large, and can number to about 40 in a good spawning.
They are mostly omnivores with a liking for
most foods. I find that they will eat courgette(zucchini) but they
are not as keen on it as your usual bog standard Ancistrus
species are. Will eat most flake and worm foods and have a particular
fondness of algae discs.
| References |
Knaack,
Joachim; Dr. A New Species of Bristlemouth Catfish of
the genus Ancistrus, Kner 1854 from the Mato Grosso, Brazil
(Pisces, Siluriformes, Loricariidae) TFH. June 1999.
Jinkings, Kathy. Bristlenoses, Catfish with
Character.
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| Etymology |
Ancistrus; With
barbed hooks, ( hooked spines)
claro; From the river of the same
name in the Mato Grosso area of Brazil.
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| Photo
Credits |
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| Synonyms:
|
| None |
| Common
Name: |
| LDA
08, Gold Marble Bristlenose Catfish |
| Family: |
| Loricariidae |
| Subfamily: |
| Ancistrinae |
| Distribution: |
Brazil,
The Mato Grosso, in the Rio Claro and
Coxipo River and other western tributaries. (see location
map) |
| Size: |
| 9cm. (3½ins) |
| Temp: |
| 24-28ºC ( 75-83°f) |
| pH.: |
| 6.0-7.0 |
| Donation: |
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