All fish / Loricariidae

Tambo bristlenose pleco

Ancistrus tamboensis

Also known as tambo bristlenose, tambo ancistrus, bristlenose catfish, bristlenose pleco, ancistrus tamboensis pleco

This small suckermouth catfish has a flattened brown to dark grey body with pale spots, and adult males grow fleshy bristles on the snout. It comes from fast, clear Andean foothill streams in Peru and is kept for its algae grazing and its modest adult size.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

10 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

6 to 7.5

Smallest tank

80 litres

Keep as

Singly or in a group with one male per cave

Diet

Omnivore: algae wafers, blanched vegetables, biofilm, occasional frozen bloodworm and shrimp

Swims

Bottom of the tank

Lifespan

8 to 12 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Peru: upper Amazon basin, Tambo and Perené river drainages (Ucayali system)

Breeding

It breeds in caves, where the male guards and fans the eggs until the fry hatch and leave. Spawning in captivity is fairly easy if you provide caves, good oxygen levels and cooler, clean water.

Good to know

This species prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with some current, so it does not suit very warm tanks. It looks very like other Ancistrus species and is often sold under the general bristlenose name.