Spotted Bristlenose Care Guide
Ancistrus dubius is a peaceful bristlenose catfish from the Amazon, Parana and Paraguay basins, a bottom-dwelling algae grazer for community tanks.
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published · Updated
Overview
Ancistrus dubius is an armoured catfish of the family Loricariidae, one of the bristlenose plecos. FishBase gives a maximum size of about 12.6 cm standard length. Like its congeners it is a bottom-dwelling, facultative air-breathing fish.
Taxonomy
- Family: Loricariidae
- Genus: Ancistrus
- Scientific name: Ancistrus dubius
- Order: Siluriformes
Habitat
FishBase records the species from South America in the Amazon River basin and the middle Parana and Paraguay River basins. It is a demersal, tropical freshwater fish.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 150 L
- Temperature: 24-28 °C (75-82 °F)
- pH: 6.0-7.5
- GH: 2-12 °dGH
- Lifespan: 8-12 years
- Decor: driftwood, caves and shaded refuges
Diet
An omnivore. As with other Ancistrus, Seriously Fish recommends a varied captive diet of sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito and chironomid larvae and prawn, plus fresh vegetables, parboiled potato and Spirulina-containing preparations.
Compatibility
Seriously Fish describes the common bristlenose group as relatively peaceful but territorial toward conspecifics and similarly shaped species. As a bottom-dweller it suits peaceful community tanks with small characins and Corydoras, while other territorial plecos are best avoided.
Breeding
Ancistrus are cave-spawners in which the male guards the clutch and fry (Seriously Fish). Males develop odontodes on the pectoral fins and opercle plus head tentacles, while females lack these structures.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern, assessed 2020 (per FishBase).
Breeding Ancistrus dubius
Overview
Ancistrus dubius is a bristlenose loricariid from South America. FishBase and Wikipedia record it from the Amazon basin and the middle Parana and Paraguay river basins, with a maximum length of about 12.6 cm SL. FishBase notes the genus is capable of facultative or obligate air-breathing and lists the species as Least Concern. Species-specific spawning reports are limited, so the account below follows the documented breeding biology of the genus Ancistrus.
Sexing
In Ancistrus, adult males show prominent fleshy head tentacles, whereas females have at most smaller tentacles along the snout margin. Males also develop evertible cheek odontodes that are reduced or absent in females.
Breeding Setup
Ancistrus species breed in hollows, caves and bank holes, so enclosed caves should be offered as nest sites. As genus members favour flowing water, well-oxygenated water with movement supports spawning.
Spawning Behavior & Trigger
Males prepare the nest site and court females by expanding the dorsal and caudal fins. Wikipedia notes research suggesting the head tentacles may act as a fry mimic to attract females.
Egg & Fry Care
Females deposit 20-200 adhesive eggs, usually onto the ceiling of the cavity. The male alone cleans and fans the clutch to maintain oxygen flow; eggs hatch within 4-10 days and the male guards the hatchlings for a further 7-10 days.
Common Challenges
Wikipedia notes there is no scientific evidence that Ancistrus feed on wood; the natural diet is algae, aufwuchs and detritus, so condition the breeders and rear the fry on these foods rather than relying on wood for nutrition.