{"product_id":"lemon-blue-eye-bristlenose-ancistrus-sp-l144","title":"Lemon Blue-eye Bristlenose | Ancistrus sp. L144","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Lemon Blue-eye Bristlenose is a sunny golden-yellow form of the popular bristlenose catfish, set off by pale, startling blue eyes. It stays small — around 12 cm — and spends its days grazing algae from glass, rock and driftwood, making it one of the most useful and charming little clean-up crew fish you can keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eBristlenose catfish belong to the genus \u003cem\u003eAncistrus\u003c\/em\u003e, from the rivers and streams of tropical South America, where they cling to submerged wood and rock in well-oxygenated, flowing water. The Lemon Blue-eye is a captive-bred ornamental colour form rather than a wild population, but it thrives in the same conditions: clean, moderately flowing water with plenty of timber to rasp on.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA stocky, armour-plated catfish with a broad flattened head and a rasping sucker-mouth. This form shows a soft lemon-to-golden body with characteristic pale blue eyes. Mature males grow a bush of fleshy tentacles (bristles) across the snout; females stay plainer with far shorter bristles around the mouth edge only.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePeaceful and hard-working, the Lemon Blue-eye gets along with almost any community fish and ignores midwater tankmates entirely. Males can be territorial toward other bristlenose or bottom-dwellers over a favourite cave, so provide a retreat for each one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003ePrimarily a herbivore. Offer good-quality algae wafers and sinking green vegetable foods, plus fresh zucchini, cucumber and blanched spinach. A piece of driftwood is essential — they rasp on it to aid digestion. A little protein (the occasional sinking pellet or frozen bloodworm) rounds out the diet, but plant matter should be the mainstay.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGive clean, well-filtered water with gentle to moderate flow, driftwood and some caves or shaded spots. Hardy and undemanding once the tank is mature, but sensitive to poor water quality, so keep up regular water changes. Good oxygenation is appreciated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the easiest catfish to breed. Cave-spawning: a male claims a snug cave, the female deposits an orange clutch inside, and the male fans and guards the eggs and fry until they are free-swimming. Fry take crushed algae wafers and vegetable matter readily.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAncistrus sp. L144\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLemon Blue-eye Bristlenose\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCaptive-bred ornamental form (genus native to South America)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 12–13 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–12 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful; males territorial toward other plecos\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e75 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 litres or more\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHerbivore (algae, wood and vegetable matter)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–26 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–7.5\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2–20 dGH (soft to hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginners; community and planted tanks\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes — grazes algae, does not eat healthy plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eExcellent with peaceful community fish: tetras, rasboras, barbs, danios, rainbowfish, dwarf cichlids, gouramis and other peaceful catfish. Ideal in planted community tanks.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eLarge aggressive or predatory cichlids, and other plecos kept without enough caves. Avoid very boisterous tankmates that outcompete it at feeding time.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232799179043,"sku":null,"price":43.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232799211811,"sku":"AA3341","price":48.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232799244579,"sku":null,"price":53.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/lemon-blue-eye-bristlenose-ancistrus-sp-l144","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}