PlanetCatfish.com - Ancistrus temminckii (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Loricariidae Hypostominae Ancistrus | |

Close-up of head
From Crique Margot near St Laurent du Maroni

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ancistrus temminckii** (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Names	Bristlenose Catfish Børstenæset Sugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Suriname.
Synonym(s)	Hypostomus temminckii, Plecostomus aculeatus
Pronunciation	an SISS truss
Etymology	The name Ancistrus is derived from the Greek word agkistron, meaning hook, in reference to the interopercular odontodes that are hooked. Named to honour Mr. C.J. Temminck.
Species Information
Size	98mm or 3.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Mature males and sometimes females have soft tentacles (bushy fleshy growths) on the snout - this is unique to the genus Ancistrus. What is identified as A. temminckii in the aquarium trade and some hobby literature nowadays is possibly A cf. cirrhosus but the true origins of that fish is unclear. The real A. temminckii may have shown up in the trade in the past, but is almost never imported nowadays. A. temminckii can be distinguished from A. cf cirrhosus by the absence vs. presence of a dark spot at the dorsal fin base, between the first and second ray.
Sexing	Typical for the genus with males possessing the so-called ''bushy nose''. Females also may have much smaller growths on the head but to a much lesser extent.
General Remarks	There are no known type specimens for this fish.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Saramacca, Suriname, and Maroni River basins. Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Marowijne (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Saramacca (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Suriname (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
Temperature	21.0-24.0°C or 69.8-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	dH°25
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Ancistrus should be fed mainly on vegetarian foods. Prepared foods include algae wafers and spirulina based sinking food. Vegetables such as courgette/zucchini, and (English) cucumber are an excellent addition to the diet, along with the odd, small amount of more meaty foods. User data.
Compatibility	A good complement to most aquariums, they are not aggressive to other species. Males may fight over territory if kept in too small a tank.
Suggested Tankmates	Appropriate with most community fish that aren't overly big or aggressive.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 15, pp 514.
Registered Keepers	There are 28 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up A. temminckii on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. temminckii on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.4.1290
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:38 (species record created: 2006 Nov 11 06:09)