BREEDING BRISTLENOSE CATFISH
Ancistrus species
by Annie Woods (a.k.a. Danbarwa)
of Melbourne Australia
Aquarticles
It’s funny really, but when we start keeping tropical fish we tend to finish up
with certain favorites that we like to keep and breed, and for me one of those favourites
is the Bristlenose Catfish (Ancistrus sp.), which I have been breeding for quite
some time now.
We often give our fish names, but I just call my main pair "Mum ‘n’
Dad", and they first spawned for me around three and a half years ago when they were
only 4cm long. Mum ‘n’ Dad are now four years old, and are about 10cm long, but
still go at the spawning as if they were still youngsters. There is still one survivor
from this first spawning that I know of, and she is doing really well in my friends' tank.
They named her Tippy.
It’s pretty easy to spot the "Dads" from the "Mums", as the
males develop a wonderful set of bushy bristles around their top lip which extends up the
middle of their face, while the females seem to occasionally grow shorter bristles around
their top lip, but never down the middle of the face like the males.
There are few fish that you will find that will cope with algae like the Bristlenose
Catfish, and I am pleased to say that I have "never" had an algae problem with
these guys around. I recently came across a nine year old fishkeeper who had a tank
covered in the stuff and looked revoltingly green, but after popping a couple of these
fellas in, the tank was spotless within two days.
Hey…. These guys are "Cheap to Keep" as well, and for unpaid workers
they do a great job of getting every bit of algae in sight, but they also like a feed of
fresh, steamed vegetables, such as peas (peel them first), zucchini, pumpkin, and beans. I
feed mine mainly steamed peas and algae pellets, but they LOVE an occasional feed of
bloodworms too. Feed only small amounts, and make sure you clean the leftovers up.
Driftwood helps with digestion, but more on that later.
Bristlenoses get along with pretty much everything - as long as THEY don't get eaten!!
They are great for any type of tank.
If you are wanting to spawn these fish, then some form of cave seems vital to getting a
successful spawn, as they need a domain that they can call their own. I find that a small
entrance with a large inside works best for me, as it will give "Dad" a cave of
sorts that he can "protect and defend" from other fish that may get too close,
and also give him some moving room inside where he can tend to the family needs. Give them
some caves!! Vital.
My "cave" is an ornamental castle that I bought some years ago at the Local
Tropical Fish Shop (LFS). This has become a main feature in my tank, and I really love
what has become known as "Catfish Castle". It’s pretty hard to actually see
the eggs in there, and I have only actually seen them once, but although a lot of people
feel the need to be able to see the eggs, I always reckon that if I can’t see them,
then Dad is doing a real good job, and must be relaxed!!!
The entrance to "Catfish Castle" is only 2cm wide x 2cm tall with tiny
windows (.5cm x 1cm) and all the new babies come out the windows, which is really cute to
watch, but there is plenty of room inside for Dad to turn around and move etc. You
don’t of course need a "Castle" like mine, as many things will make a
suitable cave, like an old ceramic flower pot (even a broken one as long as no fish can
cut themselves). A friend of mine uses a mug, yep, an old coffee mug with a larger rock
over it. There's heaps of ideas!! You are only limited by your imagination - but be
aware of what your cave is made of; e.g. a plaster ornament will disintegrate and your
fish won't be very happy with you!! You can make caves just by arranging your driftwood
and rocks. I have a few different things in my tank, and "Mum ‘n’ Dad"
each have their own things that they like to stick to, like Dad has his "Catfish
Castle" where he tends to the eggs and family, while Mum occupies another older
Castle up the back. I also have a half ceramic pot over the entrance, which I call the
"Rock Cave", and it’s what Dad uses when he’s not looking after the
eggs, and Mum sometimes uses it if Dad is busy tending the eggs or young. I also have a
fake hollow log, and a few other half ceramic pots, which all make good hiding and resting
places. There is also a fake hollow log and other ceramic half pots too!!
Bristlenoses like to breed in caves!!!!! The male will pick out HIS cave for permanent
residence. When the female is ready to spawn she will chase him out of his cave. (Looks a
bit like a "love-dance"). This is the only time I've ever seen "Mum"
dominate "Dad." Mum will then spawn her eggs in Dad's cave! Then Dad does
ALL the work. From now on, the male will be a busy boy, and he will keep water flowing
over the eggs, to prevent them from going to fungus. He does this apparently by feeling
the water flow with his bristles!! Dad also chases away all and any other fish that come
too close. But he only chases, he doesn't attack.
Once the eggs are laid it takes 5-6 days for them to hatch, then it takes another 5-6
days for the babies to eat their egg sacs. They then become free swimming and independent.
They are about 1cm when free-swimming and can take them up to 4 or 5 months to grow to 3cm
(selling size).
If you are thinking of breeding these wonderful workaholics of the aquarium, then make
sure you have plenty of tank space prepared for them, as once they start spawning they
just will not stop.
It seems that Bristlenose Cats need some sort of driftwood to "munch" on, and
the reasons for this I am not quite sure as opinions vary, but it does appear that
they need fibre in their diet. I have noticed that there are "always" baby
bristlenoses on the driftwood, so this is the first place I look if I need to catch some.
I just place a small piece of driftwood in a container to act as a "bait," then
as it becomes filled with fry I gently lift the container out, with no stress to the
young. Mum ’n’ Dad are on the driftwood at least once a week, and seem to have a
great time munching away at it.
Another thing I have noticed is that their colour changes depending on the
situation, like when they are in the dark, they tend to get lighter. The male is usually
harder to find, as he gets much lighter and his spots go sort of "blotchy,"
while the female is a glorious deep dark brown. Dad does go dark also once he’s
been out and about for a while. I always think of it as though they have just "gotten
a tan," but it is definitely mood related, and perhaps it could be some indication of
spawning.
My Water Parameters for spawning these guys are as follows:
Temp 26C,
GH 100ppm,
KH 70ppm
pH 7.0
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Well peoples, that is just about it, and I hope that this little piece of mine will
inspire others to give these wonderful fish a go, and also perhaps to encourage others to
share their fishy experiences with the rest of the world, for what some of us find easy
can be a great struggle for others, and sharing our knowledge is something we should all
try to do.
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