Which Bristlenose?

Sonia Green · Post by **Sonia Green** » 13 Jun 2004, 04:37

I have come across a scientific name of a Bristlenose Catfish not listed (not that I can tell) in the CatELog. Ancistrus Temmincki. I can tell you it comes from South America.

Which Bristlenose is this?

Post by **Silurus** » 13 Jun 2004, 09:30

What is identified as Ancistrus temmincki in the aquarium trade nowadays is either Ancistrus sp. (3) or A. triradiatus (in the Cat-eLog). The real A. temmincki may have shown up in the trade in the past, but is not seen nowadays.

Sonia Green · Post by **Sonia Green** » 13 Jun 2004, 14:16

Thanks Silirus, I had a feeling it might have been referring to the sp(3) but wasn't totally sure.

In case anyone is reading this and wondered where I found the name, it was actually the Aquarium for Dummies book by Maddy and Mic Hargrove.

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 13 Jun 2004, 14:41

Now that you mention it, it probably would be a good idea if I put an entry in the cat-elog for this species and add some text to it as a lot of entry level aquarium books still use regurgitated names.

Jools

Post by **Barbie** » 13 Jun 2004, 16:08

The latest issue of Aquarium Fish Magazine also has a write up on A. temmincki that says they are commonly found in stores, written by David A. Lass.

Barbie

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 14 Jun 2004, 10:26

Barbie wrote:The latest issue of Aquarium Fish Magazine also has a write up on A. temmincki that says they are commonly found in stores, written by David A. Lass.

Barbie

I don't know David A. Lass, but I suspect this is again regurgitation of previously used names without any real research into the origin of the fish or import patterns. The statement that A. temmincki is the species commonly found in US stores is however impossible to defend. These fish just aren't being exported in that kind of number right now. Unless we have firm evidence that these fish are being commercially bred and that stock came from north east south america (most unlikely) it really isn't probable at all.

My personal view is we will never know what the common bristlenose in the trade is because its ancestry is unlcear. We can only really hope to identify wild caught specimens or those bred by serious breeders that ensure no crossing occurs and pass on information to the buyers of the offspring and so on.

Would be nice to where most US LFS get their bristlenoses from mind you.

Jools