Awesome Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Green Phantom Pleco

Awesome Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Green Phantom Pleco – Greek, hemi = the half. While the Greek, agkistron = hook, is considered to be the cause of the term ancistrus, hemiancistrus can be taken to mean these species possess a part (not just HALF) of the top features of the genus Ancistrus, but not ALL of the features. This specific epithet refers to its olive green colour in life.

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Awesome Algae Eating Fish for Aquarium: Green Phantom Pleco

The green colour type of the fish can only actually be confused with Baryancistrus demantoides. The secret to tell these two apart is that the dorsal fin and the adipose fin are joined in Baryancistrus species, and separated in the this species.

Ranges in colouration from blueish green to yellowish green (which correlates to how far south on the Rio Orinoco the fish was collected). Body and head spots are changeable within these colour sorts. May be the same species as L128.The green colour type of this fish can only actually be confused with Baryancistrus demantoides. The secret to tell these two apart is that the dorsal fin and separated in the this species, and the adipose fin are connected in Baryancistrus species.

Serving Diet

Intestine evaluations of wild specimens shown the contents to be composed of mineral matrix’ and a ‘mixed brown orgamic, within which only strands of filamentous algae might be recognized. This suggests that the species feeds by scraping on sediment and periphyton from submerged surfaces.

In the aquarium aufwuchs should therefore be enabled to colonise all surfaces except the viewing pane so that the fish can browse naturally, even though the dietary plan needs to be supplemented with high-quality, sinking dried foods (preferably with additional vegetable content), live or frozen chironomid larvae (bloodworm) and similar, plus slices of fresh fruit and vegetables and also the occasional defrosted prawn or shrimp.

Aquarium size

This moderate-sized Loricarid prefers a dimly lit tank with a good number of hiding places, either created with plants, drift wood, stone or manufactured (pleco spawning) caves. Tank or larger: it might be aggressive towards other bottom dwellers when acceptable hiding places are lacking, and this fish can be very territorial. When kept as only catfish in an aquarium, a tank size of 40x16" (100x40cm.)

Behaviour and Compatibility

Juveniles are comparatively peaceful but males in particular become increasingly intolerant of conspecifics as they respond aggressively towards every other fish viewed as a threat that is territorial, and usually age.

It really is therefore best kept alongside species that inhabit other aspects of the tank, with medium-to-large sized characids particularly acceptable. A group may be kept in bigger aquaria supplied sufficient territorial space can be obtained and visual barriers considered when laying out the décor.

Suggested Tankmates

This fish is a great pleco for a community tank as it is going to adapt to less frenzied water conditions. If you do wish to attempt water that is faster, silver dollars and Semaprochilodus characins of numerous types are a good option for mid water companies.

Breeding

This cavern-spawning species continues to be bred in the home aquarium. Provide an array of narrow caverns built from your rockwork or use PVC conduits /clay mating tubes. Anticipate the eggs to hatch within 3-5 days (temperature dependent).

Added advice'

Among hobbyists, this species is described as L200, which, despite an excellent amount of similarities, isn't exactly the same species als the 'Hi-Fin'-variant. Both varieties are found in an identical place and originally thought to be the same species. In 2005 L200 was described, and a seperation was made involving the two kinds that were different. The species depicted here, having a standard dorsal fin, is Hemiancistrus subviridis (which is more closely linked to the up to this day undescribed L128 Blue Phantom Pleco, also a Hemiancistrus-species), and the variant together with the high, shark-like dorsal fin, is Baryancistrus demantoides.