Medusa pleco (L034)
Ancistrus ranunculus
Also known as L034, Medusa Plec, Medusa Bushynose Pleco
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 79–86°F
- 26–30°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 5.9 in
- 15 cm
- Minimum tank
- 40 gal
- 150 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Hard
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Loricariidae
- Origin
- Rio Xingu and Rio Tocantins in Para, Brazil.
Overview
A distinctive flat pleco for a tank around 150 liters with strong current and good oxygen. Unlike the algae-focused common bristlenose it wants more protein, so feed sinking carnivore pellets, frozen bloodworms, and brine shrimp alongside some algae wafers and vegetables. Peaceful and community safe, though males get territorial over prime rocks.
In the wild
Lives in shallow, fast, rocky rapids of the Xingu and Tocantins, pressed flat against stones in strong current. It is an omnivore but leans meatier than most Ancistrus, taking small invertebrates along with some biofilm and algae. Wants high flow, high oxygen, and flat rocks and caves to cling to.
Good to know
Described as Ancistrus ranunculus, the medusa has an extremely flattened, wide, triangular head fringed with the tentacle-like bristles that give it the name. Its low, squashed profile is an adaptation to living in fast water where a flat body resists the current. It is a bristlenose relative but looks and behaves quite differently from the common one.
Did you know
Its head can be wider than the body is long, and the dense fringe of soft bristles over that flat face is what earns it the medusa name.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Medusa pleco (L034) 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.
Debauwi cat
Pareutropius debauwi
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Pike topminnow
Belonesox belizanus
Freshwater7.9 in (20 cm) · 44 gal (165 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Butterfly pleco (L168)
Dekeyseria brachyura
Freshwater5.5 in (14 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)
Golden curimata
Cyphocharax multilineatus
Freshwater4.3 in (11 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Forest halfbeak
Hemirhamphodon pogonognathus
Freshwater3.5 in (9 cm) · 34 gal (130 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Bandit cichlid
Guianacara geayi
Freshwater5.1 in (13 cm) · 40 gal (150 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Medusa pleco (L034) need?
A Medusa pleco (L034) needs at least 40 gal (150 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a Medusa pleco (L034) need?
A Medusa pleco (L034) is comfortable at 79–86°F (26–30°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
How big does a Medusa pleco (L034) get?
An adult Medusa pleco (L034) reaches about 5.9 in (15 cm).
Related species
5.5 in (14 cm)30 gal (115 L)79–84°F (26–29°C)Starlight bristlenose pleco (L183)
Ancistrus dolichopterus
5.5 in (14 cm) · 30 gal (115 L)
4.9 in (12.5 cm)20 gal (75 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)Bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus sp.
4.9 in (12.5 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
7.1 in (18 cm)42 gal (160 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Starry night bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus hoplogenys
7.1 in (18 cm) · 42 gal (160 L)
4.3 in (11 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Colombian bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus triradiatus
4.3 in (11 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Blue medusa pleco
Ancistrus macrophthalmus
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)29 gal (110 L)77–84°F (25–29°C)Aguaboa bristlenose pleco
Ancistrus aguaboensis
3.1 in (8 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)