Bristle-nose, Busy-nose or Ancistrus temminkii are some of the names. There is debate if they one species or several. These interesting catfish are a perfect solution to an algae problem. They are a small strange looking pleco with a group of whisker near the mouth. They are native to South America. They feed off the algae that grows on the surface of the rocks and wood located in streams or rivers. They do not grow very large four to six inches total. The common pleco can get very large is a short time. They do not produce lots of waste either. They will keep an aquarium clean indefinitely. The normal color is brown with a lighter spots pattern. They are albino (yellow cream color) forms and long fin forms. The highest price are from the combination. If you see albino pleco you know they are tank breed. Albino have a hard time existing in the wild since they are so visible. I have no proof but suspect they have poorer eye sight so might have a harder time finding food.

Water: They prefer moderate to low mineral slightly acid water. They will spawn in water of pH 6.5 to 7.8.

Temperature: They like mid-sixties to eighties degrees water.

Aquarium size: any tank twenty gallon or more will have room for one pleco. They will not get enough food from just the algae. They will need food from other source but they will keep your tank clear of algae.

Aquarium Furniture: They like ceramic caves, pc tubes or pipes, and wood. Some people buy ceramic caves. Other will cut flower pots to have a hole about an inch across for the fish to enter. Some people use glazed flower pots laying on their side. It is a matter of what is available to you.

Tank mates: They are not aggressive with other fish except there own kind. The males will fight and can seriously hurt each other. They need private hiding places from each other.

Food: They love their vegetables. I feed mine cucumber, romaine lettuce, and spinach. They will eat flake food and shrimp pellet. They will eat wood from your wooden decorations. They will also damage artificial wood stumps. They remove the paint covering. I had this happen a couple of times before I realize the damage. I keep the two separate now.

Spawning: Like with other fish buy a group of babies and raise them. Proven pairs can be pricey but you have less waiting time. The males are larger and have larger whiskers than the females. The female have no whisker or smaller ones. Many people are breeding these fish so the price has dropped in recent years. The males are harder to find than females which is fortunate since you can have a breeding colony with one male and several females. A cave or flower pot is used as the spawning sight. The female will approach the male in his den. The male guards the eggs and take care of they until they hatch. The eggs are a red-orange color. They babies will stay in the cave until they have absorbed their yolk and they start to explore outside. The canned spinach is soft and easier for the babies to feed on. you should have extra places so their is no fighting for living space. The female will swell when full of eggs.

After hatching the babies are usually moved to a separate tank to prevent being eaten by other tank mates. The babies can be feed either frozen or canned spinach. This will turn the water an amber color. Do be scare about this. You should keep changing water as will any small babies. They are eating large amount of food so are adding waste to the water rapidly. They are many people that  shipped these all over the country through the mail system.

I have known of breeders that raise hundreds of these to sell to pet shops, fish auctions, and sell mail order. They is a demand for them. I also like the idea that  each one sold prevents another from being taken from the wild. Tank raised fish are more likely to survive in home aquariums and will eat available food without question than wild fish. They are less likely to introduce diseases to your tanks.

I have never raised some myself but have seen them at all stages in other homes.