AquaticRepublic.com - Pseudolithoxus anthrax (Loricariidae) All Fishes

Close-up of head
Close-up of mouth
Juvenile

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudolithoxus anthrax** (Armbruster & Provenzano, 2000)
Common Names	L235, Flyer Cat Fliegerwels/Flyer-Cat (Germany), Hvidplettet Flyversugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Río Orinoco backwater behind sand beach about 0.5 hr upstream from Isla Temblador, 3°04'N, 66°28'W, Estado Amazonas, Venezuela.
Synonym(s)	Lasiancistrus anthrax
Pronunciation	sue doh lith ox uss. - anth racks
Etymology	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, oxys = sharp.
Species Information
Size	124mm or 4.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	According to Armbruster, P. anthrax should have two dorsal spines and seven to eight branched dorsal rays; one anal spine and four branched anal rays; 24-26 lateral line plates; seven to eight dorsal plates; seven to eight adipose-caudal plates and 12-14 post-anal plates. The fish is usually dark grey or black with white spots.
Sexing	When comparing adults, males have much longer cheek bristles.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Upper and lower Orinoco tributaries, Caura and Aro rivers in Venezuela. Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Lower Orinoco, Caura (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Lower Orinoco, Aro (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Upper Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Near Threatened , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH	6.2 - 7.0
Temperature	24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Tricky to acclimatize unless close attention is given to providing good water quality with plenty of oxygenation.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Does well on commercial "algae" wafers but requires a meaty element to its diet (probably met by insect larvae in the wild). Newly imported specimens need such meaty food immediately to acclimatize properly. User data.
Furniture	Plants are not necessary but are left unmolested if present. Prefers flat rock caves to all other forms of refuge.
Compatibility	Some what territorial. Defends chosen cave structure from all other plecos; ignores larger fish. Should have adequate space. Can be kept in a community tank if this is taken into account.
Suggested Tankmates	Best kept with other fish that like a good water current.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 11 (no. 3), pp 243, Fig. 1.
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 P. anthrax on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up P. anthrax on Fishbase
	Look up P. anthrax on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. anthrax on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.218.635
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:12 (species record created: 2001 Jun 14 00:00)