A. dolichopterus - questions

peterK · Post by **peterK** » 03 Sep 2006, 18:40

Hello

Iâ??ve some questions about Ancistrus dolichopterus:
They really get only 10 centimetres?
Are they easy to breed? Are they like to hide or they sit in the full current all the day?
Their white stripes on caudal and dorsal fins disappear when they are adult?
Are they good for inexperienced aquarist (like me)?

Thanks for answers
Piotr (PL)

worldwide73 · Post by **worldwide73** » 03 Sep 2006, 20:09

I wouldn't recommend them for a beginner. They require soft water. I have some of these fish and they like to hide all day if possible. HTH

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/sp ... ies_id=221

Post by **Barbie** » 03 Sep 2006, 20:31

I would definitely not call these a beginner fish. They are a blackwater species, meaning they need pretty soft, warm conditions to thrive, IME. The white stripe does tend to disappear on them as they grow, but some adults can be found with the stripe still very visible. They are definitely one of the most secretive fish I've owned, and considering all the plecos I have in my house, that's really saying something, hehe.

Barbie

plecoboy · Post by **plecoboy** » 03 Sep 2006, 20:57

This is the first pleco species to breed for me. I use a bare-bones RO unit for water and have a 45 gal tall tank that is bare-bottom with some drifwood and a couple caves. Beautiful fish. Fry seem sensitive with water changes, still working on retaining more fry.

peterK · Post by **peterK** » 03 Sep 2006, 21:19

Thank you.

So, I will have Hypancistrus

Piotr

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 04 Sep 2006, 10:35

Hypancistrus are probably better beginner fish than the black-water species of Ancistrus, at least for breeding excercises.

However, if you want to practice breeding a common Ancistrus would be the ideal choice. They are much easier to breed than any of the other types of plecos, and they are very tolerant to "errors" from the owner.

They also breed more frequently, so if you fail to get the fry to survive the first time round, you don't have to wait a year or six months for them to spawn again... [At least, that's my experience].

--
Mats

peterK · Post by **peterK** » 04 Sep 2006, 19:31

Thank you, MatsP.

But I will choose one of Hypancistrus because I like them more than Ancistrus...

Greetings,
Piotr