The Loyal Algae Eating Fish Freshwater in Planted Tank: Magnum Pleco

The Loyal Algae Eating Fish Freshwater in Planted Tank: Magnum Pleco –
You might recognise this species in this months factsheet (October 2011) as Baryancistrus sp. L047 and you'd be appropriate and as of this year (2011) this Loricaria has been described along with the gold nugget pleco (Baryancistrus xanthellus) by Py-Daniel et al in their paper, "Two new ornamental loricariid catfishes of Baryancistrus from rio Xingu drainage (Siluriformes: Hypostominae).

Photo copyright from piraha-info.com

The Loyal Algae Eating Fish Freshwater in Planted Tank: Magnum Pleco

Distribution this fish Endemic Brazil, where it inhabits a section of the river’s main channel as ‘Volta Grande do rio Xingu’ directly above Belo Monte, known falls.

This is only one of my favourite Loricarias for the bigger aquarium although they are not really a species for the beginner in the hobby as they are specialised feeders and have a tendency to be territorial as grownups.

They may not be as brightly coloured as some other members of this family, never the less the subtle differences between the body and fin edge colours have been in my mind very remarkable.

This species is known from Rio Curuá, Rio Iriri, which can be the the largest tributary of the Rio Xingu, and from the Rio Xingu, immediately above Belo Monte drops in the region called Volta Grande do rio Xingu and below the village of Belo Monte.

Feeding

Omnivorous. A basic diet of big pellets, sticks, and wafers together with balls of frozen brine shrimp, blood worms, marketplace shrimp, or mussels is easily accepted. Sometimes feed vegetables also such as spinach, kale, cucumber, and canned green beans which have been rinsed.

Homemade, gelatine-bound recipes featuring a combination of puréed fish food, shellfish, fruit and vegetables, are also proven to function well and in several ways represent the ideal basic diet since the ingredients could be altered at will, and when made nicely such foods comprise a larger concentration and diversity of nutrients than some of the alternatives.

Baryancistrus spp. Are frequently under-nourished and/or suffering from health problems post-importation and might need a protracted period of acclimatisation and quarantine. They might initially require several meals daily and also possess a metabolic rate that is relatively high.

Features

This genus is big and high backed. They've a substantial suckermouth using a large number of slender and long stemmed teeth. A little membrane lies behind the final ray. Head large and broad; snout round in dorsal view. Eye round, iris operculum and large present. Orbit not elevated; interorbital place flat.

No ridge between eyes and nares. Supraoccipital procedure nearly indistinct from rest of bone, not elevated, round and elevated. Supraoccipital restricted by a set of large quadrangular plates closely linked.

Behavior and Compatibility

Juveniles are normally aggressive and relatively peaceful but men in particular as they age become highly intolerant of conspecifics towards every other fish viewed as a territorial menace.

It’s therefore kept with species that inhabit other sections of the tank with medium-to-large sized characids specially suitable. In huge aquaria you might be competent to combine it or maintain a group provided care is taken to provide adequate territorial space and visual impediments when laying out the décor.

Colour

Wide orange to yellow band across the complete distal border of dorsal and caudal fin.

Paler ventrally. Very faint light spots over body, hardly visible on fins.

Added advice'

Prior to description this species was traded beneath the DATZ code L047 or the alternate vernacular name ‘magnum pleco’.