Orange Spot Bristlenose/ Pleco

[Baccus]

I recently got two orange spot bristlnoses or plecos, but am having trouble finding information on them. The ones I have which I am hoping a male and female (although only around 5cm at the moment 1 has quite a lot of face bristles and the other 1 only has the odd one or two), they look nothing like the pictures I have seen of other orange spot bristlenoses/ plecos.
One is particularlyblack with very small (look like white) spots on him more like a peppermint with out the white band on the tail, instead he (?) only has a white spot on the top tip of the tail. The other one is less dark and has a sort of grey mottled appearance while also having the small spots like a peppermint.
 
All the information I can find says that orange spots are not known to breed in captivity, but these have obivously been bred at least some where in Australia since importing of fish is so expensive and the new laws/ testing measures makes them even more expensive.
Both fish are very camera shy so far, and as soon as they spy any movement outside the tank, disappear into the planted and log/ hollow rock recesses that make up the tanks environment.
When I can get some decent pictures of them I will post them but in the meantime does anyone have any experience with these fish?

 

[NickAu]

When I got my BN Plecos they were the same size they came from the same hatching, now I notice 1 is a lot bigger than the other, The friend who gave them to me says that the smaller 1 is most likely a female, 
 
My BN Plecos eat like crazy they love hikari algae wafers.
 
This is an old post.

 
These aren't too difficult, they will breed in normal tap water 25 degrees PH 7. 10% water changes weekly and 30% every 4th week and you shouldn't have to many problems.

Fish will need to be at least 2.5-3years old to be able to breed I have found. Feed zucc daily and sinking shrimp pellets twice a week to condition for breeding.

http/www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14146

 

[Baccus]

I have been going through some old posts on Australian fish forums and apparently there is some confusion over exactly which L speices of orange spot bristlenoses we have in Australia.
I have heaps of common BN's which are always breeding for me, and just wanted to give these guys a try for being a bit different and less readily available.
Finally snuck up on them long enough to get pictures of each.
1st one



2nd one




On the second orange spot you can see faint orange on its dorsal fin and tail

 

[Baccus]

I think I have narrowed down the correct species to being Ancistis sp. Rio Ucayali, but still having trouble finding much current information on them.

 

[NickAu]

I think Plecos are cool, Especially when they clean the snails.

 

[Alasse]

They both look female to me....
 
OSBN, i thought, were fairly easy to breed, i know of quite a few here who breed them

 

[Ch4rlie]

Lovely pics and cute little guys
 
A few bits of info on Ancistis sp. Rio Ucayali in case you have not seen these, but I know little of BN and Plecos so I cannot vouch for the information on these but these are from fairly reputable sites, esp the first one
 
Ancistrus sp. "Rio Ucayali" also known as "Gold-speckled Bristlenose", also incorrectly identified as Ancistrus leucostictus, these Plecostomus are from Rio Ucayali in the Peruvian Amazon region. They grow as big as 20 cm, are herbivores, require wood, and do not need a current. They need a pH from 6-8 and a temperature from 24-29C. They are easy to breed as long as it is in main non-hard waters. They lay a clutch from 70-120 eggs. The eggs hatch after 3-4 days and can be reared using food tablets, green foods, and fine frozen foods. The young, have a very attractive coloration, consisted of orange spots. They are a 1, they lay many eggs with rarely any problems.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/422813-detailed-information-on-bristlenose-type-plecostomus/
 
http/www.planetcatfish.com/ancistrus_sp`rio_ucayali`

 

[Baccus]

Thanks Ch4rlie
20cm will be a good size, since my other common bristlenoses are all around that size already and the pH is good since the tank these guys went into is around 7. The tank temp is the only one that may cause issues since my tanks do get very hot in summer, and in winter I try not to let them get to much cooler than 18 degrees cel. The filteration is good on the tank, but doenst have strong currents so that too should work in their favour.
I am guessing that these guys could cross breed with common bristlenoses so for now I am making sure they are kept seperate from my commons.
I had read that these guys might not be compatible with shrimp,but I had read the same thing about whiptails but the shrimp in their tank are increasing at an amazing rate.