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Longfin Calico Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Animalia›Chordata›Actinopterygii›Siluriformes›Loricariidae
📍 Amazon Basin, South America
A long-finned calico (marbled orange/black/white) morph of the common bristlenose pleco. The bristlenose pleco is the most commonly kept plecostomus in the hobby thanks to its manageable adult size. Males develop characteristic bushy tentacles on the snout used in mate selection. An excellent algae grazer, it should also receive supplemental feeding with blanched vegetables and sinking wafers.
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Care Guide
Diet
Bristlenose plecos are primarily herbivorous and will graze on algae naturally present in the tank, but supplemental feeding is essential. Offer blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, spinach) 2-3 times weekly and high-quality sinking algae wafers or pellets daily. Occasional protein supplements like bloodworms can be provided but should not be the primary diet.
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Quick Facts
- diet
- Herbivore/Omnivore – algae, blanched zucchini/cucumber, sinking wafers
- lifespan
- 10–15 years
- max size
- 15 cm (6 in)
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful; males territorial with conspecifics
Water it likes
- ph
- 6.5–7.5
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 3–25 dGH
- temperature
- 73–81°F (23–27°C)
Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.