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ou may recognise this species in this months factsheet (October 2011) as Baryancistrus sp. L047 and you would be right and as of this year (2011) this Loricariia has been described along with the gold nugget pleco (Baryancistrus xanthellus) by Py-Daniel et al in their paper, "Two new ornamental loricariid catfishes of Baryancistrus from rio Xingu drainage (Siluriformes: Hypostominae). Neotropical Ichthyology 9, pp. 241–252."

Baryancistrus chrysolomus

This is one of my favourite Loricariids for the larger aquarium although they are not really a species for the beginner in the hobby as they are specialised feeders and tend to be territorial as adults. They might not be as brightly coloured as some other members of this family, never the less the subtle differences between the body and fin edge colours are in my mind very impressive.

This species is known from the Rio Xingu, in the area called Volta Grande do rio Xingu, immediately above Belo Monte falls and below the village of Belo Monte, and from Rio Curuá, Rio Iriri, which is the the largest tributary of the Rio Xingu.

Below you can see the male of the species with the long interopercular spines on the cheeks and the broader head.

Baryancistrus chrysolomus - head view

Adults occur under large flat rocks settled directly on the river bottom, in places with considerable amounts of fine sediments. Young individuals inhabit marginal areas of the rapids, near the river banks, usually just one or two individuals. They occupy under rocks in places with slow to moderate flowing waters, usually with sediment accumulation over the rocks and river bottom. Based on two specimens, this species feeds mainly on diatoms and occasionally on invertebrate larvae associated with fine sediments and sand grains.

This species can be distinguished from all its congeners, except Baryancistrus xanthellus, by the presence of a broad orange to yellow band along the entire distal border of dorsal and caudal fin (vs. all fins without yellow bands). This genus is large and high backed. They have a large suckermouth with a high number of slender and long stemmed teeth. A small membrane lies behind the last ray of the dorsal fin which joins the anal fin. Found in shallow fast flowing areas of water with a stony substrate.

Prefers higher temperatures and adults can prove to be territorial.

L047, Magnum Pleco

None

Ancistrinae

South America: Brazil, Rio Xingu, in the area called Volta Grande do rio Xingu, immediately above Belo Monte falls and below Belo Monte village, and from Rio Curuá, Rio Iriri, the larger tributary of Rio Xingu.

35.0cm. (14ins)

26-30°c (79-87°f.)

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 5. This genus is large and high backed. They have a large suckermouth with a high number of slender and long stemmed teeth. A small membrane lies behind the last ray of the dorsal fin which joins the anal fin. Head large and wide; snout round in dorsal view. Eye large and round, iris operculum present. Orbit not elevated; interorbital area flat. No ridge between eyes and nares. Supraoccipital process not elevated, almost indistinct from rest of bone, round posteriorly and elevated. Supraoccipital limited by a pair of large quadrangular plates tightly connected. Predorsal area reduced, with one pair of separated diamond shaped plates anterior to nuchal plate.

Larger Characins such as the Congo Tetras from Africa. As the genus Baryancistrus likes higher temperatures you could may be research companions that will be able to sustain these parameters, such as non-aggresive South American Cichlids.

No reports although the gold nugget pleco, Baryancistrus xanthellus has been bred before.

Vegetarian diet, and will also eat plants in the aquarium. Tablet foods and insect larvae.

Baryancistrus: Greek, barys = heavy/sturdy (Ancistrus)+ Greek, agkistron = hook.
chrysolomus: From the Greek chryso, meaning orange or yellow and loma meaning border, in allusion to the coloured band at the border of the dorsal and caudal fins. A noun in apposition.

Py-Daniel, LR, J Zuanon and RR de Oliveira (2011) Two new ornamental loricariid catfishes of Baryancistrus from rio Xingu drainage (Siluriformes: Hypostominae). Neotropical Ichthyology 9, pp. 241–252.
Seidel, Ingo; Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes 208 p.

Photo Credits

© Danny Blundell