Ancistrus sp. with blonde bristles/lips?

biomechmonster · Post by **biomechmonster** » 09 Apr 2004, 04:56

I have a 2.5" Ancistrus sp. with a brown body but blonde bristles, nose, and lips, as well as some blonde the tips of his caudal fin....anyone know what this is? It's his coloration, not a fungus. I'll try to get pics if anyone wants them!

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 10 Apr 2004, 09:56

Hi!

Yes a pic whould be a good thing to visualise this a bit better, sounds strange, at least they way you describe it....

Sometimes due to flash or light the very small odontodes on the body can have a bronze/yellow sheen but that is totally normal...

Yellow bristle of a brown Ancistrus is less normal, could the fish be one of these

Cheers
Yann

biomechmonster · Post by **biomechmonster** » 10 Apr 2004, 20:07

I'll try to get a picture later today then, the fishs' body is very similiar to those 'piebald' Ancistruses you showed me though. I purchased this fish a few months ago, it was in a batch of rubbernoses and I purchased it as a rubbernose (I thought it looked quite odd for one but I was not familiar with rubbernoses back then) then when it grew bristles and its color changed I knew I had something else.

Dr.UltraScarlet · Post by **Dr.UltraScarlet** » 11 Apr 2004, 09:38

Hi!
I think there is a normal genetic explanation for this, its probably a varieation among the cells ability to produce the colour protein. Those cell proliferate in certain areas causing it to become white. So it might be rare but probably harmless or if its harmfull it will only affect the number of surviving fry, by I donÂ´t think its a lethal mutation.

Kind regards

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 17 Apr 2004, 19:12

I've seen small Ancistrus come in with Chaetostoma before too, but nothing like you describe! I have to agree w/ Dr.US on the genetic mutation part if a piebald didn't accidentally get thrown in the rubbernose holding tank, things like that just happen sometimes. Heck it might not even affect # of fry at all...if possible try to find a matching female (aside from the "blonde" part anyway) and breed them, just to see if it shows up in the young.

Most of all I'd like to see a pic of this too...any news on that yet?

Tyler

biomechmonster · Post by **biomechmonster** » 18 Apr 2004, 20:41

No, no pics yet: I'd have to take pics when I clean the tank (since I take all the deco out when I do that)--this little guy is a real hider! Last few times I cleaned the tank I either forgot or the cam batteries weren't charged....I'm planning to clean the tank again today so I'll write myself a note to get some pictures!

DeepFriedIctalurus · Post by **DeepFriedIctalurus** » 06 May 2004, 05:21

biomechmonster wrote:No, no pics yet: I'd have to take pics when I clean the tank (since I take all the deco out when I do that)--this little guy is a real hider! Last few times I cleaned the tank I either forgot or the cam batteries weren't charged....I'm planning to clean the tank again today so I'll write myself a note to get some pictures!

I hope you didn't forget about us, since I'd still love to see this little guy.

Anyway just checking in....cuff me in the head if they were posted somewhere else.