All FishesLoricariidaeHypostominaeLasiancistrus  |  | 

Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Lasiancistrus tentaculatus  Armbruster, 2005
Common Names L092, Woodeating Lasiancistrus
L194, Variabel Halvfinnesugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality río Las Marias, near El Portrero, below the metal bridge, 09°05'N, 69°39'W, Apure, Venezuela.
Pronunciation LASS ee an SISS truss
Etymology Greek, lasios, -a, -on = hairy + Greek, agkistron = hook This specific epithet refers to the small tentacles (tentaculum=small tentacles) or feelers along the nuptial male's snout.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 120mm or 4.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Adult Lasiancistrus can be separated from all other loricariids by the presence of whisker-like odontodes on the cheeks. In addition, they have evertible cheek odontodes; three rows of plates on the caudal peduncle; and a modified, bar-shaped opercle. The caudal fin is slightly emarginate to forked, with the lower lobe longer than upper. Nuptial males have tentacules on the pectoral-fin spines longer than their associated odontodes; and transluscent tentacules on the snout that have odontodes associated with them. Nuptial males lack hypertrophied odontodes on top of the head and lack long, bristle-like odontodes on the leading edge of the pectoral-fin spine.

An overall brown that can range from light to dark depending on mode. The first one third of the body is covered with small light dots. The fins have darker markings present on the fin rays.
Sexing Females are plumper when gravid and viewed from above.
General Remarks A rather unique little fish as its diet is like no other member of the genus.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Rio Orinoco basin.
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Valencia (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.0 - 7.4
Temperature 24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Water should be soft.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding A wood eater like the members of the genus Panaque. Wood should constitute the bulk of their diet with occasional feedings of vegetables or algae-based wafers. Protein should be fed very sparingly. User data.
Furniture A species tank would replicate a driftwood snag. Furniture is fairly unimportant with the exception that the tank must contain driftwood.
Compatibility Very peaceful.
Suggested Tankmates Found alongside Panaque maccus, P. nigrolineatus, Farlowella vitata, F. mariaelenae, Otocinclus, and Hypoptopoma. Also captured with Corydoras habrosus, C. septentrionalis, and C. venezuelanus ''black.''
Breeding See Shane's World article.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Neotropical Ichthyology v. 3 (no. 4), pp 565, Fig. 9
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 9 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2022 Jan 14 12:05 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)