Gold marble bristlenose catfish - Ancistrus claro

Scientific name: Ancistrus claro

Common name: Gold marble bristlenose catfish

Family: Loricariidae

Usual size in fish tanks: 6 - 9 cm (2.36 - 3.54 inch)

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Recommended pH range: 6.2 - 7.5

Recommended water hardness: 6 - 20°N (107.14 - 357.14ppm)

0°C 32°F30°C 86°F

Recommended temperature range: 24 - 28 °C (75.2 - 82.4°F)

The way how these fish reproduce: Spawning

Where the species comes from: South America

Temperament to its own species: peaceful to females

Temperament toward other fish species: peaceful

Usual place in the tank: Bottom levels

Short description

Ancistrus claro — often sold as the Gold Marble Bristlenose, Claro bristlenose, or LDA08 — is a small, attractive Ancistrus from clear, fast-flowing streams of Mato Grosso, Brazil (upper Paraguay basin). It stays compact (about 6–9 cm), making it ideal for mid-sized community aquaria. Generally peaceful, but adult males are territorial toward rival males, so provide multiple snug caves and line-of-sight breaks.

Origin

South America – Brazil: upper Paraguay drainage (Mato Grosso), in clear, well-oxygenated tributaries with rock/sand bottoms and moderate current. Aquarium setups that emulate a riverine environment with good flow and oxygenation suit this species best.

Food and feeding

A biofilm/aufwuchs grazer with omnivorous tendencies. Offer sinking algae/spirulina wafers and quality catfish pellets as staples; supplement with blanched vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, spinach) and small portions of frozen/live foods (cyclops, daphnia, bloodworms, finely chopped shrimp). Allow some controlled algal film to develop on smooth rocks. A piece of driftwood is helpful for grazing and fiber, though this species is not a true wood-eater like Panaque.

Sexing

Males develop prominent fleshy tentacles on the snout and often stronger cheek/flank odontodes. Females may show short tentacles along the snout edge or none; they are typically rounder when gravid.

Breeding

A classic cave spawner. Provide tight caves/tubes with only one entrance. The female lays a clutch deep inside; the male guards and fans the eggs until hatching (usually ~4–6 days, depending on temperature). Larvae absorb their yolk for another ~7–10 days; once they emerge, offer powdered algae foods, crushed wafers, and later baby brine shrimp or cyclops. Keep oxygen high and water very clean.

Lifespan

With good husbandry expect 6–10 years (5–8 je konzervatívny odhad).

Behavior & compatibility

Peaceful community bottom-dweller. Keep singly or with multiple individuals only if you can provide several caves and partitions to reduce male–male disputes. Excellent with small to medium peaceful fishes (tetras, rasboras, dwarf cichlids) and non-competing catfish. Avoid mixing with large, aggressive plecos that may outcompete or harass them.

Tank requirements

Tank size: 70–100 L for a single specimen; larger volumes for groups.
Aquascape: fine sand/rounded gravel, smooth stones for grazing, multiple snug caves/ceramic tubes; driftwood optional.
Flow & oxygen: moderate water movement with strong aeration; keep nitrate levels low.
Water: pH 6.2–7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral), soft to moderately hard; temperature ideally 24–28 °C.
Maintenance: frequent water changes and a clean substrate; avoid overfeeding to preserve biofilm without excess detritus.