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No federal permit to keepAncistrus claro
Ancistrus claro
Fishes › Catfish (Siluriformes) › Loricariidae (Plecos)
Ancistrus claro is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes.
Care at a glance
Species-specific aquarium care
- Tank: At least 24 in long and 12 in front to back for one adult (adults commonly reach about 2.6 in / 6.6 cm).
- Water: Freshwater.
- Layout: Lives on or near the bottom: floor space and hiding places matter more than height.
- Availability: Rarely or never seen in the aquarium trade; expect to source it from specialists or not at all.
Calculated from this species' own FishBase record: tank size from its typical adult length and swimming zone, water values from its recorded ranges. The group guide below fills in general care.
Care guide
Species care notes
- Tank: a base of at least 24 × 12 in (roughly 14 US gallons); space needed is rated “modest tank”.
- Water: a fairly wide range, from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, 73–82 °F, pH 6–7.5, 2–15 dGH.
- Behaviour: in a pair; suited to a community tank.
- Difficulty: Beginner (Seriously Fish rating).
Short excerpts from the species profile:
- Setup: “Not difficult to maintain under the correct conditions; we strongly recommend keeping it in a tank designed to simulate a flowing stream with a substrate of variably-sized rocks, sand, fine gravel, and some water-worn boulders.”
- Diet: “Wild specimens are probably omnivorous foragers but with a preference for aquatic invertebrates and suchlike.”
- Tankmates: “A peaceful, diurnally-active species which can be maintained in a well-chosen community.”
- Breeding: “Cave-spawner with the male responsible for brood care.”
From the Seriously Fish profile for this species, which has the full habitat, maintenance, diet, behaviour and breeding write-up 167
Plecos (suckermouth catfish)
Applies to most species in this group. Habitat: South American rivers. Individual species can differ, so compare with the species numbers above and the linked sources.
Housing & setup
- Driftwood (some species rasp it for fiber), caves and good flow.
- Common plecos reach 18–24 in; many smaller species stay under 6 in.
Diet
- Algae wafers and vegetables for herbivores; meaty foods for carnivorous species.
Health watch
- Starvation if they're expected to live on algae alone.
Understanding the animal
About this animal
About this animal
This catfish is endemic to Colombia.
Quoted from the Wikipedia article “Ancistrus claro” (CC BY-SA 4.0) 174
In the wild
In the wild
From this species’ own FishBase record (habitat, bottom type, water and breeding data), not its family. Good care copies these conditions.1
| Where it lives | Lives in freshwater. Stays near the bottom. |
| Water it lives in | Freshwater. |
| Climate | Tropical climate. |
Native climate (measured)
Native climate (measured)
| Warm-season highs | about 89°F (up to 91°F in the hottest sampled areas) |
| Cool-season lows | about 57°F (down to 54°F in the coldest sampled areas) |
| Average temperature | 73–77°F across sampled records |
| Relative humidity | 74–75% on average (driest month about 60%) |
| Rainfall | about 1435 mm a year |
Measured at 15 wild occurrence records sampled against WorldClim 2.1 climate data (1970–2000 averages). Air conditions in the range are ecological context, not enclosure settings: microhabitats such as burrows, leaf litter or basking rocks can be cooler, warmer or more humid.
From the sources
From the sources
Quoted from the matching sections of reputable sources for this exact species. Specialist databases are used first; Wikipedia (community-edited, CC BY-SA 4.0) only fills gaps. Other sources are short credited quotes.
| Overview | Ancistrus claro is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes. This catfish is endemic to Colombia. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| Where it lives | Home ranges Population dynamics Growth parameters Max. ages / sizes Length-weight rel. Length-frequencies Mass conversion Recruitment Abundance Life cycle Reproduction Maturity Maturity/Gills rel. — FishBase |
| Appearance and size | Ancistrus claro reaches a standard length of 6.6 cm. Ancistrus species develop soft, bushy tentacles on the snout when sexually mature, these are better developed in the males than they are in females. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
| History and naming | Ancistrus claro was first formally described in 1999 by the German ichthyologist and aquarist Joachim Knaack with its type locality given as the Claro River above the bridge, in the direction of Chapada dos Guimarães in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. — Wikipedia (community-edited) |
Data and studies
Researched care notes
Researched care notes
Findings checked against veterinary, zoo, welfare, keeper and peer-reviewed sources. Air, basking-surface and water temperatures are kept separate, and where sources disagree both are shown. “Study” notes report what a paper measured, not a universal rule.
Bristlenose Pleco
Researched for this genus; applies to its species unless a species note says otherwise.
- The common aquarium bristlenose has uncertain ancestry; do not automatically identify every trade specimen as confirmed Ancistrus cirrhosus.1
- For the common trade bristlenose profile, Seriously Fish gives water temperature 21–26°C, pH 5.5–7.5 and hardness 1–15 dGH.1
- Provide well-oxygenated water and plentiful cover rather than treating the fish as a substitute for aquarium maintenance.1
- Bristlenoses can be territorial toward conspecifics and similarly shaped fish; a peaceful community reputation does not guarantee compatibility between males.1
- Offer dedicated sinking foods with vegetable components and other appropriate variety; the source does not present incidental algae alone as a complete ration.1
The numbers
The numbers
Each bar is what one source reports. Where several sources weigh in, the dashed gold band marks their average.
Adult length
Maximum recorded length. Measured as standard length (snout to the base of the tail, not counting the tail fin). Fish in home aquariums often stay smaller than wild records.
Water temperature
Range the species tolerates; aim for the middle.
pH
Water hardness
Minimum tank footprint
Seriously Fish recommends a tank base of at least 24 × 12 in (about 14 US gallons).
Sources for this sheet
- FishBase (Froese & Pauly, eds.), version 24.07 Peer-reviewed researchThe global scientific database on fishes, maintained by a consortium of research institutions; every value is referenced.
- Seriously Fish species profiles Experienced keeper or breederLong-running aquarium reference written and peer-checked by experienced fishkeepers and ichthyologists; each profile covers habitat, tank size, water, diet, behaviour and breeding.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of aquarium fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Types and features of aquatic systems Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Nutritional diseases of fish Zoo, university or veterinaryThe Merck Veterinary Manual: a standard veterinary reference written and reviewed by veterinary specialists.
- Seriously Fish — Ancistrus sp. “3” / common bristlenose identification Zoo, university or veterinaryAdded in the 2026 source-checked care-guide review.
- Wikipedia (species article) Community referenceFree encyclopedia; useful overviews with their own citations. Intro text is quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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