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Nathan Lujan (2)

Description: Ancistrus patronus differs from all other Ancistrus in the region except A. lithurgicus, A. macrophthalmus, A. maximus and A. nudiceps by having an entirely black body with tiny white to golden dots; from A. leoni by having the abdomen almost as dark as the sides (vs. much lighter); from A. nudiceps by reaching a much smaller maximum size (86 vs.138 mm SL), by having the distance between the anteromedial plate and the snout greater than or equal to the distance between the anteromedial plate and a line formed by the anterior margins of the nasal apertures (vs. less than); and from A. leoni, A. lithurgicus, and A. macrophthalmus by being deepbodied (vs. flattened), by having the median plate below the posterior edge of the adipose-fin membrane about twice as tall as wide (vs. just slightly taller than), and by the eyes being laterally placed (vs. dorsolaterally placed in A. lithurgicus and almost completely dorsally placed in A. macrophthalmus (Souza, LS de. et al). Colouration: Body and fins jet black with tiny white dots. First dorsal-fin membrane with dark pigment near base. Upper and lower tips of caudal fin sometimes white or cream coloured. Aquarium Care: The Ancistrus genera make good community fish where they do not grow too big for the aquarium. Some species have different requirements in the aquarium so best to read up on the species you have whereas if they need higher oxygen requirements or not, or if they prefer cooler waters if they originate from the southern parts of South America against the species from further up north. Diet: Vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette and also tablet and meaty foods. Reproduction: Lay their eggs in caves as a cluster and the first signs of the breeding process is a few tiny fry darting around the community tank. Males of this genus guard their nests and protect their young until they are fairly large. With their cheek odontodes everted, males can block off nests and potentially injure predators. Etomology: Named for good fathers. Patronus is Latin for protector or defender and is derived from pater for father. (Souza, LS de. et al).

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Loricariidae

South America: Venezuela, Present in the upper Río Orinoco from the Río Cinaruco upstream and the Río Casiquiare.

8.5cm. (3½ins)

22-27°c (71-81°f.)

6.0-7.2.

Souza, LS de; Taphorn, DC & Armbruster, JW, 2019 "Review of Ancistrus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the northwestern Guiana Shield, Orinoco Andes, and adjacent basins with description of six new species" (abstract) (Zootaxa, Vol. 4552 No. 1).
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