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Colombian bristlenose pleco

Ancistrus triradiatus

Also known as Three-ray bristlenose

FreshwaterFish

Colombian bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus triradiatus)
(c) Pia Helminen, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa

Care at a glance

Temperature
77–84°F
25–29°C
pH
6.0–7.5
Adult size
4.3 in
11 cm
Minimum tank
18 gal
70 L
Temperament
Peaceful
Social behavior
Solitary
Swim level
Bottom
Diet
Omnivore
Difficulty
Medium
Breeding
Cave spawner · Medium
Rarity
Rare
Family
Loricariidae
Origin
Orinoco llanos, Colombia and Venezuela

Overview

The Colombian bristlenose pleco is a hardy, peaceful algae grazer that fits almost any calm community tank. It is one of the easier plecos to look after, though not quite a beginner fish.

Did you know

Most bristlenoses in the trade are sold simply as Ancistrus sp., with no species name at all. The Colombian bristlenose pleco is one of the minority that has been formally described.

Caring for the Colombian bristlenose pleco

Give the Colombian bristlenose pleco a tank of at least 18 gal (70 L), with driftwood, rocky caves and a sand floor. Good filtration and plenty of oxygen suit it.

Keep the water soft to neutral, at 77 to 84°F (25 to 29°C) and a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It adapts easily and is among the most forgiving of the wild-caught plecos.

It is a genuine algae grazer that works wood, rock and glass, mostly after dark. Feed it algae wafers and vegetables such as zucchini and cucumber, with the odd sinking protein food. Keep driftwood in the tank for it to rasp.

The Colombian bristlenose pleco is peaceful and easygoing with other fish. Keep it singly or as a pair, though, since males take a cave and defend it from other males.

Males grow a little larger than females and carry more bristles. It is a cave spawner, and the male guards and fans the eggs. It breeds readily for a pleco.

Good to know

Ancistrus triradiatus is a bristlenose in the family Loricariidae. Its species name, triradiatus, means three-rayed.

In the wild

The Colombian bristlenose pleco comes from clear, rocky streams of the Orinoco llanos in Colombia and Venezuela. There it grazes wood and stone in moderate flow.

Weekly picks

Tank mates

The Colombian 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

What size tank does a Colombian bristlenose pleco need?

A Colombian bristlenose pleco needs at least 18 gal (70 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.

What temperature and pH does a Colombian bristlenose pleco need?

A Colombian bristlenose pleco is comfortable at 77–84°F (25–29°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.

What does a Colombian bristlenose pleco eat?

A Colombian bristlenose pleco grazes algae on wood, rock and glass, mostly after dark. Feed it algae wafers and vegetables such as zucchini and cucumber, with the odd sinking protein food.

How big does a Colombian bristlenose pleco get?

An adult Colombian bristlenose pleco reaches about 4.3 in (11 cm).

How can you tell a male Colombian bristlenose pleco from a female?

Males grow a little larger than females and carry more bristles.

How does a Colombian bristlenose pleco breed?

The Colombian bristlenose pleco is a cave spawner, and the male guards and fans the eggs. It breeds readily for a pleco.

Related species