Star Antsistrus [1] ( lat. Ancistrus hoplogenys ) is a species of ray-finned fish of the family of mail catfish (Loricariidae), aquarium fish . In nature, it feeds on algae.
| Stellate ancistrus |
| Scientific classification |
|---|
| No rank : | Bilateral symmetric |
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| International Scientific Name |
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Ancistrus hoplogenys ( GΓΌnther , 1864 ) |
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Natural habitat : South America , Amazon River, Essequibo , Paraguay with tributaries [2] .
Content
Flat body covered with bony plates. The pectoral fins have small spikes. The color of the body and fins is monotonously dark, almost black with small white-bluish dots. In young individuals, the back and tail fins are decorated with a wide white border, which disappears with age.
Males are much larger than females and reach a length of 7-8 cm (rarely up to 10 cm). The distinctive feature of males is branchy growths located on the head.
Prefer aquariums with a slow flow, a volume of 50 liters, good aeration is desirable. In the aquarium, it is mostly nocturnal, so you need a sufficient number of shelters where the fish could hide during the day. Water parameters: temperature 20-28 Β° C, hardness up to 20 Β° dH, pH 6-7.5.
Power
Typical herbivorous. In nature, they feed on bottom fouling and algae. In the conditions of the aquarium it is necessary to feed vegetables - zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage. Also eat special food for antsistrov (antsistrusov). Live food is best given frozen, not more than 20% of the diet.
Compatible with other types of fish
Peaceful, get along well with any species. However, in relation to same-sex individuals of their own species, they are aggressive, territorial. Males can arrange fights for possession of shelters. It is better to keep one male on two females.
They become sexually mature at the age of about a year. In nature, spawning occurs during the rainy season, when the water is significantly colder. The impetus for spawning in an aquarium is the replacement of a large amount of water with fresh water and a decrease in temperature by 3-4 Β° C. The male chooses and cleans the shelter where the female lays from 20 to 200 eggs. After that, the care of the fry falls on the male, the female can be deposited. He guards spawn, fanning it with fins. The larva appears within 7-10 days, large, with a large gall sac.
Fry can be fed with chopped catfish food, shrimp meat, frozen live food. Mandatory vegetable bait.
The Star Ancistrus ( Ancistrus leucostictus ) is very similar to this species.
- β a) Rybakov O. E. Exotic aquarium fish. Illustrated Encyclopedia. In 2 volumes. - St. Petersburg: Radar Publishing House, 1994. - ISBN 5-85587-009-X
b). Polonsky A. S. The maintenance and breeding of aquarium fish. - M .: Agropromizdat, 1990. - β Star Antsistrus (English) in FishBase database.