Bristlenose Ancistrus but the same species?

[William]

This is my male bristlenose, definately a bristlenose - look at those bristles!! But is he an Ancistrus Sp. or common bristlenose like the female I have pictured or another variety of bristlenose? The male has patches of lighter skin this was because I had to move the tank, completely dismantling it and transporting it accross half of london and the pictures were taken about half an hour before I took the photograph. I believe its stress related.

 

[William]

My female are they the same? I am sure my female is an ancistrus sp. My female is heavily egg laden but she has been for about three weeks, I introduced the male two weeks ago.

 

[William]

For breeding I have the fake bamboo which is hollow and a perfect width, it was open at the other end but I have now blocked that off.

 

[William]

Another of the male and a cheeky sterbai with bright orange pectoral fins beside him

 

[William]

This is the male from underneath

 

[William]

Here is another picture of the female.

 

[StiX]

can u get a close up pic of the female ?

 

[William]

I am now 95% sure the female is an Ancistrus temmincki Still unsure of the male but he is definately not an ancistrus temmincki so I am going to trade him in as I am really hoping to breed some bristlenoses

 

[Gibbo]

Ancistrus Claro IMO William (male). He may still not be full grown m8. They will breed at 3" but may grow to 5". There may already be 'hybrids' in the hobby because although they are still a delight to keep and breed, they have been bred extensively over the last decade (it is easily done) so this may make ID'ing them a little more difficult. Check out Claro on Planet Catfish m8 and check out the Ventral view and compare it with the ventral view on your male. The mouth is very wide compared to many other Ancistrus and check the patterning as well.

 

[William]

Hi gibbo so if I got a female for him and a male for the temmincki would they both breed or do they need seperate tanks to avoid fighting, I'm a newbie with this catfish breeding lark

 

[Gibbo]

If given seperate pipe/spawning site they may well be OK but you'll have to positively ID them first in the shop.... B)

 

[William]

Well the shop sold me the male after I brought the female in and taking them for their word I bought it After looking at planet catfish you are 100% right about the male being a claro thats it for sure. I'm either going to trade the claro in for a temmnicki male or get a male temmnicki and female claro. When I bought the fish I was talking to the "catfish expert" which is why I believed what he was saying, I'm hoping to get a job there in the summer though to bring in some money though so guess I will have to train the staff lol...

I hear you can use half a coconut as a spawning site is this true? Does anything special need to be done to the coconut other than cutting out an entrance?

 

[-=DG=-]

Looks like he's ready for a shave

 

[Tanked]

cleaned up the female pic a bit.