Antennae catfish

Ancistrus bufonius**

 The antenna catfish (Ancistrus, Syn .: Xenocara), also called antenna catfish, are a genus of the armor catfish and the largest group within the subfamily Ancistrinae. New species are often described, about 75 species are currently known. Type species is Ancistrus cirrhosus (originally Hypostomus cirrhosus).

Because of their conspicuous appearance, the uncomplicated keeping of many species and their reproduction in captivity, aerial armor catfish are often kept in the aquarium hobby.

Antenna armored catfish live in northern and central South America, their habitat extends to the Río de la Plata in the south and to Suriname in the north. Most species live in rivers. Overall, however, the populated habitats are diverse. They range from fast flowing rivers to stagnant bodies of water in floodplains and swamps.

Typical is a more or less dorsoventrally flattened physique and a suction mouth with numerous fine teeth. The interopercular (a bone of the gill cover) is covered with spiky skin teeth, the odontodes, and can almost always be turned out. The operculare (another bone of the gill cover) is usually also freely movable. The sides of the body are armored with bone plates, which in many cases also have skin teeth. The abdomen and the first quarter of the head are bare. The most obvious feature are tentacle-like attachments on the front part of the head. In the males of some species these can also branch, in females they are less pronounced or absent entirely.

Antenna armored catfish, like all armored catfish, feed mainly on algae and periphyton, but are not pure vegetarians. They live very ground-oriented and only swim freely for short distances. Antenna armored catfish are very peaceful towards non-species fish. Internally, the territorial males can become very aggressive towards one another, especially during spawning time. For reproduction, caves are preferred, on the walls of which the female attaches up to 200 orange-colored eggs about three millimeters in size in a cluster. The clutch is guarded by the male. The larvae hatch after about five days. They then feed on their yolk sac for about five more days. Then they leave the shelter and search for food independently.

A code system was introduced for aquarists in 1988, the so-called L numbers. The reason for this was the import of highly diverse, as yet undescribed armored catfish. The "L" comes from their family name Loricariidae, the number refers to the order of publication in DATZ.

Aquaristic info (Source: Fischlexikon)

L number: 183

Habitat: fresh water

Climate zone: Tropical

Temperature: 26 ° C - 30 ° C

pH value: 5.8 - 7.0

Hardness: 2 - 20 ° dGH

Aquarium: at least 100 cm tank length (1 pair)

Feeding:

Omnivores: live, dry and frozen food, vegetables (e.g. cucumbers, peppers, zucchini), catfish chips. Red mosquito larvae should not be fed as they have thorns and therefore get caught in the intestines

Attitude:

The blue antenna catfish loves clear tanks with sufficient oxygen supply, dense (robust) plants and enough hiding places. The pool floor should consist of sand or finer gravel. The sand should not be sharp-edged so that this catfish does not injure itself. The blue catfish does not like bright light, so the surface of the water should be covered with floating plants.

For the blue catfish it is absolutely necessary that roots, coconuts or the like are present in the tank (it constantly rasps around on them). The fish absolutely needs the cellulose it contains for its digestion. The pool should offer enough space and hiding places, since sexually mature males behave territorially.

If you wanna have one for your Aquarium garnelio does have some, but please ask them before you buy if they have International Shipping!