Pleco – Blue Eyed Lemon Bristlenose L144 Aquarium Gallery

Classification:
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae

Distribution:
A. cirrhosus is native to the Argentinian portion of the Paran river drainage but all A. cf. cirrhosus in the hobby are produced commercially and of uncertain origin.

Habitat:
Unknown.

Maximum Standard Length:
100 – 125mm

Aquarium Size:
A tank with a base measuring 60 x 30cm or equivalent is sufficient to house a single specimen or breeding pair. Larger quarters would be required for a group.

Maintenance:
Compared to some others in the genus it’s largely undemanding, but does prefer well-oxygenated water. Provided there is plenty of cover decor is largely unimportant.

Water Conditions:
Temperature: 21 – 26°C
pH: 5.5 – 7.5
Hardness: 18 – 268ppm

Diet:
Does best when offered a varied diet comprising sinking dried foods, frozen Daphnia, mosquito larvae, chironomid larvae (bloodworm), and prawn/shrimp, for, example, plus some fresh fruit, parboiled potato, etc. Home-made foods using a mixture of natural ingredients bound with gelatin are very useful since they can be tailored to contain fresh vegetables, Spirulina and meatier ingredients.

Behaviour and Compatibility:
Relatively peaceful but territorial with conspecifics and similarly-shaped species.

Sexual Dimorphism:
Adult males possess well-developed odontodes on the pectoral fins and opercle and tentacles on the head while females do not.

Reproduction:
Cave-spawner with the male responsible for brood care. It’s commonly bred in aquaria and in well-maintained, mature set-ups juveniles may begin to appear without intervention.