Spotted Medusa Pleco L255 (Ancistrus sp. 'L255')
| Spotted Medusa Pleco L255 Ancistrus sp. 'L255' | |
|---|---|
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| Name | Spotted Medusa Pleco L255 |
| Name Lat. | Ancistrus sp. 'L255' |
| Family | Suckermouth Armoured Catfishes |
| Family lat. | Loricariidae |
| Order | Catfishes |
| Order lat. | Siluriformes |
| Origin | Brazil |
| Habitat | Rivers |
| Diet | Limnivore, soft wood |
| pH | 6.0-7.0 |
| Behavior | Nocturnal, peaceful |
| Keeping | Individual, group |
| Care Level | Moderate |
| Reproduction | Cave spawner |
| Breeding | Difficult |
| Life Span | 5-8 years |
| Protection | No |
| Metric Units | |
| Size | 12-13 cm |
| Temperature | 25-29 °C |
| Hardness | 1-10 °dH |
| Aquarium | ~ 200 l |
| US Units | |
| Size | 4.7"-5" |
| Temperature | 77-84 °F |
| Hardness | 18-178 ppm |
| Aquarium | ~ 50 gal |
Distribution and habitat
The distribution area of the crepuscular to nocturnal Medusa Ancistrus L255 is exclusively the catchment area of the middle Rio Xingu in Para, Brazil. They mainly stay in fast flowing shallow water with stones, boulders and dead wood.
Maintenance
The aquarium should have a robust border planting with stones, caves (catfish burrows) and roots, which provide hiding places and at the same time are part of the food. A substrate of sand and round-grained gravel, subdued light (floating plant cover) and a strong current is ideal.
No ammonia, ammonium and nitrite should be detectable, the nitrate value should not exceed 100 mg/l. To ensure the water quality and oxygen content, a filter and heater adapted to the aquarium size is required, as well as lighting for the species-appropriate day-night rhythm of the animals.
Diet
They eat the vegetable cover (growth) of stones, wood, plants, etc. and the microorganisms contained therein. 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 or scalded spinach, plus occasional small amounts of zooplankton, cyclops, daphnia, artemia, mosquito larvae, etc. (live or frozen). Feed only 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
They sometimes behave intra-species territorial, so several animals should be kept only in large and richly structured tanks. Towards other fish they behave peacefully and are well suited for a community tank with not too small fish.
Basically, only compatible fish species with similar demands on water quality and water temperature should be socialized.
Sex dimorphism
Males have more tentacles on the anterior edge of the head, whereas females have a maximum of 2 rows of tentacles and longer odontodes than females.
Reproduction and breeding
The breeding has already succeeded several times. The female lays the eggs in a cave, which are then fertilized by the male. The male takes over the brood care, guards the cave and fans the eggs with his fins. The larvae hatch after 4-5 days and swim free after 2-3 days, which is the end of the male's brood care. The fry eat soft lettuce and spinach leaves, zucchini slices as well as microworms and Artemia nauplii
In community tanks breeding is hardly possible, because the fry are easy prey.
Important
The juveniles can easily be confused with Ancistrus ranunculus, but in the latter the white spots fade with age.
They have a strong sucking mouth, with spoon-shaped teeth for scraping wood, and an intestinal flora that allows the fish to digest the cellulose.
When fishing, use the finest mesh nets possible to prevent the hard rays of the pectoral fins or the skin teeth (odontodes) from getting 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: petdata; Image: Franz Lowak
Source: BMELV (1998): Tierschutzgutachten - Haltung von Zierfischen (Süßwasser); BAENSCH & RIEHL (1997): Aquarien Atlas Bd. 5, Mergus Verlag; 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