Gold marble bristlenose pleco

Ancistrus claro

Also known as LDA08, Claro bristlenose

FreshwaterFish

Gold marble bristlenose pleco (Ancistrus claro) — The Wet Spot Tropical Fish · Used with permission

Care at a glance

Temperature: 77–84°F (25–29°C)
pH: 6.0–7.5
Adult size: 3.1 in (8 cm)
Minimum tank: 20 gal (75 L)
Temperament: Peaceful
Social behavior: Solitary
Swim level: Bottom
Difficulty: Medium
Breeding: Medium
Rarity: Rare
Origin: Rio Claro, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Family: Loricariidae

Overview

This is a genuinely small bristlenose, so it suits tanks that a full-size pleco would outgrow. Keep one per tank, or a pair with plenty of caves, because males defend a spawning cave and will spar with rival males, though they ignore other fish. It grazes algae and biofilm across wood and rock and takes sinking algae or spirulina wafers, blanched vegetables, and the occasional frozen treat. Give it several snug caves and line-of-sight breaks. A tank of around 75 liters is enough for this dwarf species.

In the wild

It is native to the Rio Claro in Mato Grosso, Brazil, a clear, fast stream running over boulders and bedrock. Give it warm, moving water with driftwood, rounded stones, and caves, over a substrate of sand or fine gravel. It is not fussy about chemistry within a pH of about 6.0 to 7.5 and warm stream temperatures, but it does want clean, oxygenated water with a bit of current.

Good to know

Ancistrus claro is a loricariid described in 1999 that stays around 8 centimeters, one of the smaller members of the bristlenose group. Mature males grow the fleshy snout tentacles the group is known for. It is a marbled gold-over-brown fish sold as LDA08, and it spawns readily in caves with the male guarding and fanning the eggs, so breeding is of only moderate difficulty.

Did you know

It takes its name from the Rio Claro, the clear-water stream it comes from. It is a true dwarf bristlenose, staying under about 9 centimeters when many of its relatives grow half again as long.

Tank mates

Gold marble bristlenose pleco is a peaceful, solitary species that keeps to the bottom. These picks match on water type, temperature, pH, size and temperament.