First appeared in the DATZ
magazine July 1997 and captioned as L239 Ancistrinae
sp. Description: Baryancistrus
beggini is unique within Hypostominae in having
a uniformly dark black to brown base colour with a
blue sheen in life, and the first three to five plates
of the midventral series strongly bent, forming a
distinctive keel above the pectoral fins along each
side of the body. It is further distinguished by having
a naked abdomen, two to three symmetrical and ordered
predorsal plate rows including the nuchal plate, and
the last dorsal-fin ray adnate with adipose fin via
a posterior membrane that extends beyond the preadipose
plate up to half the length of the adipose-fin spine.
Colouration: Adults and juveniles
dark grey to black with a turquoise blue sheen on
fins and flanks. Blue sheen more intense in some,
presumably male, adults. Aquarium
Care: Can be
problematic, especially
with inexperienced aquarists, not
a beginners fish. As of most of this
genera the adults can be extremely territorial, especially
with their own kind and other species of Baryancistrus.
Prefers higher temperatures. Sexual Differences:
Mature males have a broader and longer head and longer
pectoral fin spines. Diet: Vegetarian
diet, and will also eat plants in the aquarium. Remarks:
Phylogenetic research since the original description
has revealed that this species actually represents
a new, undescribed genus largely restricted to the
upper Orinoco along with Baryancistrus demantoides,
Hemiancistrus guahiborum and Hemiancistrus
subviridis (Lujan, N. K. 2021).
Common
Name:
L239, Blue Fin Panaque, Blue
Panaque
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
Upper Rio Orinoco and
lower portions of its tributaries, the Rio Guaviare
in Colombia and Rio Ventuari in Venezuela.
Size:
12.0cm. (4¾ins)
Temp:
22-25°c (71-77°f.)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
Reference:
N K. Lujan, M. Arce
and J W. Armbruster.
2009. A New Black Baryancistrus with Blue Sheen from
the Upper Orinoco (Siluriformes: Loricariidae).
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.