Breeding Bushynose (Ancistrus Dolichopterus) In The Aquarium

Location

This freshwater fish lives in streams and tributaries with dark water, floodplains in forests in Brazil.

Body description

Colour of the body is black-navy blue with small, white dots. This species has wide pelvic and pectoral fins. The dorsal fin is high and wide with white border. This dorsal fin has more rays than dorsal fins of other species from this genus. This species has also defensive spikes on both sides of the head. You can recognize the sex of the fish when it is sexually matured. Male has fleshy, long and bushy tentacles on his head which look like antlers. Females may have the tentacles but they are small and placed only around their mouth.

Temperament and behaviour

This is peaceful and friendly species. It is usually active in the evening and at night. It hides in the dark places during the day. Males can be territorial towards each other, so you need large aquarium for a group of males. You should keep these fish with quiet and peaceful species. This species feeds on algae but mainly in the juvenile age. You shouldn't feed these fish with a lot of live food because they may suffer from indigestion.

Aquarium decoration

This fish prefers aquarium with a lot of plants with wide leaves, hiding-places among rocks, caves and roots. You can also keep these fish in "black water" biotope tank with peat in filtration system and dry leaves of oak or beech. You should have an effective filtration system, dimmed light and soft substrate. A partial water exchange should be done regularly. You shouldn't use net to catch this fish. This species is sensitive to water quality and fluctuation of it's parameters.

Breeding

This is an oviparous species. You can breed these fish in the general tank or a separate aquarium. Female lays eggs in previously selected hideout (e.g. pot, coconut shell, pcv pipe or cave). Entrance to the hideout should be a bit bigger than size of the fish. You can stimulate this fish to spawn by increasing the water temperature, reducing water hardness and pH, abundant feeding and bigger - up to 50-70% partial water changes using cooler water for few days. Male chooses place where female will lay eggs and he carefully cleans it. Male also protects his hideout against intruders. He lures female to his hideout. Male immediately fertilizes laid eggs after female leaves the hideout. He takes care and protects the roe and offspring. He can stay in the nest without leaving it for several days. The eggs hatch after 4-5 days but the larvae stay in the nest. The fry starts to swim, feed and leave the hideout few days later. The fry grows unevenly and it is sensitive to water parameters.