All fish / Loricariidae

Cauca Bristlenose Pleco

Ancistrus caucanus

Also known as cauca bristlenose, colombian bristlenose, bristlenose pleco, ancistrus sp.

A small armoured catfish from the upland rivers of Colombia, brown to dark grey with pale spotting and the fleshy snout bristles typical of the genus, which are much larger in males. It is kept as a hardy, compact algae grazer for community tanks, and suits slightly cooler, well oxygenated set-ups.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6.5 to 7.8

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Single or a pair; one male per tank unless space is generous

Diet

Omnivore: algae wafers, blanched vegetables, sinking pellets, occasional frozen bloodworm

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Colombia: Cauca and Magdalena river basins

Breeding

A cave spawner: the female lays a clump of eggs in a tube or cave and the male guards and fans them until the fry are free swimming. Breeding is fairly straightforward in captivity given caves, clean oxygen-rich water and a vegetable-rich diet.

Good to know

Needs driftwood to graze and good water flow; true wild-collected fish are uncommon and many Ancistrus sold under this name may be misidentified.