Snowball Pleco (Hypancistrus inspector)
| Snowball Pleco Hypancistrus inspector | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Snowball Pleco |
| Name Lat. | Hypancistrus inspector |
| Synonym | L102 |
| Family | Suckermouth Armoured Catfishes |
| Family lat. | Loricariidae |
| Order | Catfishes |
| Order lat. | Siluriformes |
| Origin | Venezuela, Brazil |
| Habitat | Streams |
| Diet | Omnivore, soft wood |
| pH | 5.0-7.5 |
| Behavior | Peaceful |
| Keeping | Individual, harem |
| Care Level | Difficult |
| Reproduction | Cave spawner |
| Breeding | Difficult |
| Life Span | 5-8 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 14-16 cm |
| Temperature | 22-30 °C |
| Hardness | 1-15 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 250 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 5.5"-6.3" |
| Temperature | 72-86 °F |
| Hardness | 18-267 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 65 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The snowball loricariids are native to the Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro and their tributaries in Venezuela. They live in oxygen-rich, fast-flowing, small rivers and streams in shallow water, with sandy bottoms and boulders.
Maintenance
The aquarium should have a robust planting with numerous caves made of stones and roots that provide hiding places. A sandy substrate with round gravel and a strong current is ideal.
No ammonia, ammonium or nitrite should be detectable, and the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and the oxygen content, a filter adapted to the aquarium size and a heater are required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They prefer animal food, except for juveniles, which feed mainly on vegetable food. For a balanced diet, feed once a day with a high-quality dry food for loricariid catfish (granules, pellets, chips, tablets), supplemented with algae leaves, soft wood and fresh vegetables, such as zucchini, broccoli, bruised peas, scalded spinach, as well as zoopankton, cyclops, daphnia, artemia, mosquito larvae, shrimp and mussel meat (live or frozen)
Only feed as much as will be eaten within a few minutes, excluding plant foods. Regular and varied feeding promotes health and increases resistance.
Behaviour and compatibility
Males are often intraspecific and territorial towards other loricariids. Several animals should be kept in a harem (one male with 2-3 females) and only in large, richly structured tanks. They are very peaceful towards other fish and can be socialized well with them
Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water condition and water temperature should be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
Males have a thickened first pectoral fin ray and more and longer odontodes (pointed skin teeth) than females.
Reproduction and breeding
They spawn in caves. The clutch consists of up to 20 eggs and is cared for by the male. The larvae hatch after about 7 days and swim free after another 6-7 days.
The fry must be fed several times a day with special rearing food. In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.
Important
Aquarium plants do not serve as food for them and are hardly nibbled or eaten.
When catching them, use nets with as fine a mesh as possible so that the hard rays of the pectoral fins or the skin teeth (odontodes) do not get caught on the bone plates, which can cause painful puncture wounds when touched.
The well-being of the fish should be checked regularly. Temperature should be checked daily, pH, hardness and nitrate levels at least every 14 days. Regular partial water changes are recommended, even when contaminant levels have not yet reached the upper limit. Sudden changes in water quality should be avoided. Newly introduced fish must be accustomed slowly to the water in the aquarium.
Further literature can be found in your pet store.
References
Text: Werner Winter; Image: Ruinemans Aquarium B.V.
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); ENGELMANN (2005): Zootierhaltung - Tiere in menschlicher Obhut: Fische, Verlag Harri Deutsch; SCHMIDT, WERNER, LECHNER (2005): MiniAtlas L-Welse, Bede-Verlag
- Gemäß § 21 Abs. 5 Tierschutzgesetz idgF