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Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus cirrhosus
The best algae-eater for most tanks — stays small unlike common plecos, and males grow charming bristles.
4–6 in10–15 years
Habitat
Enclosure
20–30 gal minimum
Temperature
72–80°F
Humidity / Water
Freshwater · pH 6.5–7.5
Heating & lighting
Heater plus strong filtration; a piece of driftwood is essential — they rasp on it for digestion. Mostly nocturnal, so provide caves.
Diet
Feed these
- Algae wafers
- Blanched zucchini and cucumber
- Driftwood to rasp
- Occasional frozen bloodworms
Never feed
- Bare tanks with nothing to rasp
- High-protein diets only
- Common pleco advice — those need 75+ gal
They graze algae all night but still need supplemented vegetables and wafers several times a week. Males guard eggs in caves.
Cohabitation
Can live with
Angelfish Neon tetras Corydoras catfish Oscar — huge tanks only
Never house with
Other territorial plecos in small tanks Fish that harass nocturnal bottom dwellers
Hides by day, works at night. Two males may squabble over the best cave, but they coexist with nearly any peaceful community fish.
