AquaticRepublic.com - Chaetostoma sp. (L445) (Loricariidae) All Fishes

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All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Chaetostoma sp. (L445)
Common Names	L445, Spotted Bulldog Pleco Black Spotted Bulldog Pleco, Meta-gumminæse (Denmark), Spotted Rubbernose Pleco, Villavicencio I
Type Locality	Honda, Colombia
Pronunciation	KATE oh STOW mah
Etymology	Greek, chaite = hair + Greek, stoma = mouth.
Species Information
Size	120mm or 4.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Chaetostoma is not straightforward to identify, but as a general rule, the species has spines behind the gill-cover (interopercular odontodes), no plates on the abdomen, and aside from C. platyrhynchus also lack plates on the snout edge. Different from Ancistrus by not having fleshy tentacles on the snout. This fish pictured here is shown in Aqualog as the "unofficial" l-number L187a and is totally different from the white speckled L187. As this is a frequent import, eventually the species was assigned an official number. Often labelled incorrectly as C. milesi. L445 is exported from Colombia and has smaller spots on the head than on the body typically with greater spacing between the spots on the head.
Sexing	The males have a somewhat larger and broader head, slimmer ventral sides and disproportionately large pelvic fins. Perhaps the over-sized pelvic fins play a large role in the fertilization of the eggs. By inverting these over the clutch of eggs, they prevent the sperm cells being carried away too fast in the current.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Collected from tributaties of the Rio meta, in the area around Villavicencio, Colombia. Orinoco, Middle Orinoco, Meta, Upper Meta (click on these areas to find other species found there) Log in to view data on a map.
pH	6.8 - 7.8
Temperature	20.0-23.0°C or 68-73.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Has more stringent demands on water quality than many plecos and requires highly oxygenated water. Medium hard water is also beneficial.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivore. Will eat algae and small live or frozen food. Some individuals can be weaned onto pellet food although this usually takes some effort and trial and error on the part of the aquarist. User data.
Furniture	Worn smooth rounded or slightly flat fist sized rocks on a fine sand substrate.
Compatibility	A peaceful fish which can sometimes be a little territorial with its own species.
Suggested Tankmates	Certain fast water fish would fit in with the requirements of this fish. Many of the other fast water Loricariids can be kept with this fish. Often found in the wild with smaller pike cichlid species and fast water silvery characins.
Breeding	Not reported in the aquarium although other species of Chaetostoma have reproduced in captivity.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	There are 2 registered keepers, view all "my fish" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up C. sp. (L445) on PlanetCatfish.com
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Last Update	2022 Jan 22 10:01 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)