Ancistomus plecos (Ancistomus spp.) care guide

Group
Freshwater fish
Other names
Ghost pleco (A. snethlageae, L141, L215), Orange-fin Xingu pleco (A. feldbergae, L012, L013), Gainsboro pleco, L163, Ancistomus snethlageae, Ancistomus feldbergae, Ancistomus spilomma, Ancistomus micrommatos, Ancistomus spinosissimus
Family
Loricariidae (suckermouth armoured catfishes)
Origin
Shallow, fast-flowing rivers of the south-eastern Amazon basin in Brazil, such as the Tapajós and Xingu, and the Rio do Pará.
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
22 cm
Temperature
25–30°C
pH
6–8
Hardness
Soft to medium
Minimum tank
200 litres
Care level
intermediate
Temperament
peaceful

Care

Ancistomus is a small genus of plecos (loricariid catfishes) from Brazil, related to Peckoltia and Hemiancistrus. Five species are currently recognised: A. snethlageae, A. feldbergae, A. spilomma, A. micrommatos and A. spinosissimus. Several were moved between Ancistrus, Hemiancistrus, Lasiancistrus, Peckoltia and Ancistomus over the years; a 2015 review by Armbruster, Werneke and Tan settled them in Ancistomus. Figures vary by species, so check the species or L-number before buying. Popular trade fish include the ghost pleco, A. snethlageae (traded as L141 and L215), which reaches about 22 cm total length, and the orange-fin Xingu or Gainsboro pleco, A. feldbergae (L012 and L013), about 17 cm SL; a similar fish from the Rio do Pará is traded as L163. They live in shallow rapids over flat rocks, sand and pebbles, hiding under rocks by day. In the aquarium give strong flow, high oxygen, very clean water and plenty of flat stones, caves and driftwood. For the larger species a tank of about 200 litres is a sensible minimum (our estimate). We have no species-specific water figures from the sources; warm (around 25–30 °C, an estimate based on similar rapids-dwelling plecos), soft to medium water with a roughly neutral to slightly acid pH suits most rheophilic Brazilian plecos. Males of territorial plecos may squabble over caves, so give each one its own. Conservation: the IUCN lists A. snethlageae as Endangered (2022), largely because its rivers are affected by dams and other development, so buy captive-bred fish where you can. We could not read the PlanetCatfish genus page for this check, so this overview is based on Wikipedia's species accounts. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancistomus; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancistomussnethlageae; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancistomusfeldbergae). Checked October 2026.

Diet

Mainly grazers: A. feldbergae feeds chiefly on diatoms and other algae from rocks, foraging at night. Give algae and vegetable-based sinking wafers, blanched vegetables such as courgette, and some frozen bloodworm, mysis or prawn. Provide bogwood for grazing.

Breeding

Like their relatives, Ancistomus are expected to be cave spawners in which the male guards the eggs and young in a cave. Breeding details vary by species and are poorly documented in the sources we checked, so look up the L-number before trying.

Compatibility and tank mates

Generally peaceful towards other fish, but males can be territorial with other plecos over caves. Suits a large, well-oxygenated tank with calm to moderately active midwater fish such as tetras, peaceful barbs or dwarf cichlids, and other rapids fish. Avoid boisterous bottom-dwellers that compete for caves.

Last updated 5 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.

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