Overview: Bristlenose Pleco belongs to the genus Ancistrus from the family Loricariidae. The scientific name of Bristlenose is Ancistrus Cirrhosis. It is a nocturnal freshwater fish that has gained a prominent place in the aquarium hobby for a long time. The other popular names for Bristlenose are Bristlenose pleco, bristlenose catfish, and bushy nose catfish. It has a smooth body with a sucker-shaped mouth, with a smaller size not reaching more than 5 cm. Due to its uniqueness, the fish makes the tank look different and is fun to watch too.

Appearance: With a size of around 3 to 5 cm, Bristlenose is the smallest member of the catfish family. It has peculiar markings with brown, green, gray, and white spots on the body. Some fish also have uneven coloring on different parts of the body with splotches. The abdomen is light, and the back is darker in color. (Bristlenose albino is an exception with a completely white color). The unusual appearance of this fish- fat and flat body, bony plates, and wide head makes it dissimilar from others. Being nocturnal, it is essential to place driftwood, rocks, caves, etc., in the tank to provide them with spots to hide.

Distribution and Habitat: Bristlenose is believed to be originated from South America. It is found predominantly in the fast-flowing waters of the Amazon River Basin. Also, it is found in parts of South and Central America. Rapid flowing tributaries are the dwelling place of Bristlenose. Being a bottom dweller, one can keep them in a community tank that has different species. It is a peaceful fish that need a minimum of 40 gallons of tank size.   

Temperature: 23 to 27 degrees Celsius

Water conditions: 5.8 to 7.8, hardness 2 to 30 dGH

Breeding: It is an egg-laying fish where determining gender and breeding is easy. Males are larger than females with prominent bristles and whiskers. While the bristles of males are on the heads, females have them on the snout. Ensure adding caves and driftwood in the tank to encourage mating.

Feeding: Bristlenose is herbivorous and loves to feed on algae. Since it is nocturnal, it eats mostly during the night. If the tank has driftwood, rocks, and other décor items that are a good medium for algae development, Bristlenose would love to feed on them. Even though these fish is herbivorous, they do not harm the aquarium plants. For additional food, offering them granules, bloodworms, or fish flakes will suffice.

Lifespan: The life expectancy of Bristlenose is around five years, making it a suitable candidate for tanks. When provided with proper water conditions and a good diet, Bristlenose fish remains healthy and thrives well in the tank.

Do you know: Bristlenose is a great tank cleaner. It vacuums the substrate and makes it clean almost every day.