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Variety of Bristlenose pleco

Albino bristlenose pleco

Ancistrus sp.

One of 4 varieties of Ancistrus sp. · See all varieties →

Also known as Albino Bushynose, Albino Bushynose Pleco

FreshwaterFish

Albino bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus sp.)
The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Varieties · Ancistrus sp.

See all 4 →

Care at a glance

Temperature
70–79°F
21–26°C
pH
6.5–7.5
Adult size
4.9 in
12.5 cm
Minimum tank
20 gal
75 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Medium
Rarity
Very common
Family
Loricariidae

Overview

A pale gold body with red eyes, on the same build and bristles as the brown fish. Shops list it as albino bristlenose or albino bushynose and both are the same line. The light body makes a male's bristles easy to read across a shop tank, and it shows scrapes a brown fish hides. Depth of gold varies between suppliers.

In the wild

The albino line was fixed in captivity from Ancistrus stock traded as cf. cirrhosus, and albinos are not found in wild populations. It has been in the hobby long enough that stock traces back to many breeders, so no single origin is documented. Nearly all fish in stores are tank-bred, often locally.

Good to know

Albinism blocks melanin, so the brown base drops out and the eye reads red from the blood behind it. The trait is recessive: albino crossed to brown gives brown-looking fry that carry it, and those carriers throw roughly one albino in four. Breeders have also reported albino pairs producing brown fry, which points to more than one gene able to cause the same look.

Did you know

Two albino bristlenose can give you a batch of brown fry. The usual explanation is two different genes able to cause albinism, so a pair carrying different ones produces young that show neither. Breeders discussing it point to eye color as the tell: a pale fish whose eyes are not pink or red is not a true albino. It is uncommon enough to catch people out when buying stock from mixed sources.

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Tank mates

Albino bristlenose pleco is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.

Check the full mix in the stocking calculator

Common questions

Is an Albino bristlenose pleco a different species from the Bristlenose pleco?

No. An Albino bristlenose pleco is a variety of the Bristlenose pleco, Ancistrus sp., and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.

What size tank does an Albino bristlenose pleco need?

An Albino bristlenose pleco needs at least 20 gal (75 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

How big does an Albino bristlenose pleco get?

An adult Albino bristlenose pleco reaches about 4.9 in (12.5 cm).

Related species