AquaticRepublic.com - Ancistrus claro (Loricariidae) All Fishes

All Fishes ⇒ Loricariidae ⇒ Hypostominae ⇒ Ancistrus | |

Male
Fry
Ventral view
Dorsal view - male
Male
Clutch of eggs
Newly hatched fry with yolk sac
Three day old fry
Seven day old fry
Fry raising tank within main tank
Juvenile
Male and female in cave laying eggs

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ancistrus claro** Knaack, 1999
Common Names	LDA008, Gold Marble Bristlenose Catfish (), Claro-Ancistrus (Germany), Dværg-antennesugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Rio Claro, above the bridge, in the direction of Chappada dos Guimaraes, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Pronunciation	an SISS truss - cla row
Etymology	The name Ancistrus is derived from the Greek word agkistron, meaning hook, in reference to the interopercular odontodes that are hooked. Named after the Rio Claro, where it was collected.
Species Information
Size	66mm or 2.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Mature males and sometimes females have soft tentacles (bushy fleshy growths) on the snout - this is unique to the genus Ancistrus. The base colouration is brown with a whitish abdomen region. The markings are beige to yellowish white, and are a completely irregular reticulated pattern. Snout tentacles of males have a pattern of light-coloured spots. The dorsal and caudal fins have irregular bands. Overall, this species is rather easy to ID because of its small adult size and quite unusual pattern. Still, it can be confused with young specimens of common Ancistrus unless the mouth shape is examined as it is different, in A. claro it is more oval shape than rounded
Sexing	Males have branched tentacles on the snout, females can occasionally have 2-3 very little tentacles, but most don't have any. Mature females have a darker base colouration. The vermiform lines are found predominantly on males. Both sexes grow to about the same size.
General Remarks	Mainly active during the day (at least in its natural habitat).
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Cuiabá River basin in upper Paraguay River drainage, Brazil. La Plata, Paraná, Paraguay, Upper Paraguay, Cuiabá, Coxipo (click on these areas to find other species found there) La Plata, Paraná, Paraguay, Upper Paraguay, Cuiabá, Claro (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2018.
pH	6.2 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Conductivity range at type locality: 3-10 microsiemens
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Not a picky eater, will eat about anything, from vegetables to bloodworms. A vegetable diet is preferable and animal proteins can be given once or twice a week but should not make up the main diet. User data.
Furniture	Its natural habitat consists of fast flowing waters over a rocky bottom. Likes also to stay in quiet zones of these same river rapids. Safe will robust plants.
Compatibility	It is not a territorial fish. Can be housed with several of its own kind or other loricariids without a problem.
Suggested Tankmates	Riverine species are ideal as they will share enjoyment in a current.
Breeding	Typical Ancistrus manner. Males stay in caves and guard the brood. Females lay about 20 to 35 eggs. Eggs hatch after 5-7 days. After about 2 weeks the yolk sac is totally absorbed and the young start to eat. Fry are raised like other members of the genus.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Tropical Fish Hobbyist v. 47 (no. 10), pp 71, Figs. 1-3 + unnumbered.
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
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 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up A. claro on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up A. claro on Fishbase
	Look up A. claro on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. claro on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.4.152
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:06 (species record created: 2001 Apr 21 00:00)