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Nathan Lujan (3)

Aquarium Care: The Ancistrus genera make good community fish where they do not grow too big for the aquarium. Some species have different requirements in the aquarium so best to read up on the species you have whereas if they need higher oxygen requirements or not, or if they prefer cooler waters if they originate from the southern parts of South America against the species from further up north. Diet: Vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette and also tablet and meaty foods. Reproduction: The female lays her eggs in caves or crevices... that the male has chosen and cleaned.... as a cluster. The male usually then guards the eggs after ejecting the female. The fry then cling to the sides of the cave and when they use up their yolk sac, which is around the four to seven day period, they will be ready to feed on infusuria, vegetable matter, brine shrimp naupli or micro worms. In a community tank a few will survive if enough hiding places are afforded to them (Prefers cooler waters). Etymology: Named as from the Rio Cauca, Colombia. Remarks: Although this species may be locally threatened by pollution from mining activities and deforestation for cattle ranching, this cannot be considered a major threat at present given its wide distribution. Hence, it is listed as Least Concern (IUCN). The species is sensitive to changes in water quality. It is probably affected by water pollution related to mining activities (IUCN).

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Loricariidae

South America: Cauca River basin in Colombia. Type locality: Sonsón in the Río Cauca basin.

5.5cm. (2¼ins)

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Fisch-Muller, S., 2003. Loricariidae-Ancistrinae (Armored catfishes). p. 373-400. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 08/2019 ).
Lasso, C., Mesa-Salazar, L. & Sanchez-Duarte, P. 2016. Ancistrus caucanus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.