Ancistrus claro
Photo: Johnny Jensen
In the June 1999 issue of Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine, Dr. Joachim Knaack describes Ancistrus claro from the Rio Guapore drainage of the Mato Grosso of Brazil. The species has also been collected in the Coxipo River. The fish attains a size of at least 97 mm and is diurnal (active during the day). In its natural habitat this fish lives in areas with strong currents among and under rocks along rocky slopes. The substrate is composed of rocks and gravel. Submersed water plants were not present in its habitat. The Rio Claro, the location from which the holotype was collected and the species was named remains very clear, extremely mineral deficient, and is high in dissolved oxygen. Water temperature was recorded at 26 to 27 degrees C with a pH of 6.5. In the Loricariidae Aqualog book, the fish is listed as LDA8.
Reference: Knaack, J. 1999. A New Species of Bristlemouth Catfish of the Genus Ancistrus Kner, 1854 from the Mato Grosso, Brazil (Pisces, Siluriformes, Loricariidae). TFH Vol. XLVII, No. 10:70-76.