Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus
Loricariidae
FishDifficulty: ●●○○○Data: well-established
About
The bristlenose pleco is a stocky, armored suckermouth catfish, far more tank-friendly than the common pleco because it stays modestly sized. Mature males develop a striking crown of fleshy tentacles on the snout. A diligent nocturnal algae grazer, it rasps surfaces clean and constantly gnaws driftwood, which it genuinely needs in its diet. Hardy, adaptable and an excellent choice for most community aquariums.
Care
Provide driftwood, caves and strong filtration in a tank of 110 L or more. Hardy across a wide parameter range; males can be territorial toward each other, so give ample floor space.
Diet
Primarily herbivorous; needs driftwood plus algae wafers and blanched vegetables. Produces a lot of waste, so keep filtration robust and do regular water changes.
Tankmate compatibility
Gets along with (82)
African Butterfly CichlidAgassiz's CoryAmano ShrimpBamboo ShrimpBanjo CatfishBlack Neon TetraBlack Phantom TetraBlack Ruby BarbBlack Skirt TetraBlackline RasboraBladder SnailBleeding Heart TetraBlood Parrot CichlidBloodfin TetraBlue Velvet ShrimpBolivian RamBrichard's TeleogrammaBronze CorydorasCelestial Pearl DanioCherry BarbCherry ShrimpChinese Algae EaterClown PlecoCochu's Blue TetraCockatoo Dwarf CichlidCongo TetraDiamond TetraDwarf Flag CichlidDwarf GouramiDwarf Neon RainbowfishDwarf Pea PufferElephantnose FishEmerald CoryEmperor TetraFeatherfin SqueakerFlame TetraFreshwater ClamGhost ShrimpGlass CatfishGlowlight TetraGolden Dwarf CichlidGolden PencilfishGolden TetraGolden Wonder KillifishHarlequin RasboraHead-and-Tail-Light TetraHoney GouramiJulii CoryKeyhole CichlidKribensisLemon TetraLittle CorydorasOtocinclusPeaceful BettaPenguin TetraPictus CatfishPolka Dot LoachPurple Emperor TetraPygmy CorydorasRainbow SharkRed Whiptail CatfishRed-Tail SharkRosy TetraSalt and Pepper CoryScarlet BadisScissortail RasboraSerpae TetraSiamese Algae EaterSilver Tip TetraSkunk CorySparkling GouramiStriped KribensisStriped Raphael CatfishThai Micro CrabThick-lipped GouramiTiger BarbUmbrella Dwarf CichlidUpside-down CatfishVampire ShrimpVenezuelan CoryX-ray TetraYoyo Loach
Possible with care (145)
Acei CichlidAfrican ButterflyfishAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidAltum AngelfishAngelfishAssassin SnailAuratus CichlidBetta (Siamese Fighting Fish)Blue AcaraBlue Dolphin CichlidBlue Tiger ShrimpBoesemani RainbowfishBorleyi (Redfin Hap)Borneo SuckerBrevis Shell DwellerBuenos Aires TetraBuffalohead CichlidBumblebee CichlidBumblebee GobyButterfly Hillstream LoachCardinal TetraCelebes RainbowfishCheckerboard CichlidCheckered BarbChili RasboraChocolate CichlidChocolate GouramiClown KillifishCobalt Blue ZebraColombian Ramshorn SnailCongo Dwarf CichlidConvict CichlidCrystal Red ShrimpCuckoo CatfishCylindricus CichlidDemasoni CichlidDenison BarbDiscusDoctor FishDogtooth CichlidDojo (Weather) LoachDwarf Chain LoachDwarf Orange CrayfishDwarf Petricola CatfishDwarf RasboraElectric Blue AhliElectric Yellow LabEllioti CichlidElongate MbunaEmber TetraEndler's LivebearerEven-spotted SynodontisFestivum (Flag Cichlid)Figure-8 PufferFiremouth CichlidFive-bar CichlidForktail RainbowfishGerman Blue RamGlowlight DanioGold BarbGolden JulieGreen DiscusGreen Neon TetraGreen TerrorGuppyHeckel DiscusHongi CichlidJack DempseyJapanese Trapdoor SnailJewel CichlidJohanni CichlidKenyi CichlidKissing GouramiKuhli LoachLambchop RasboraLeast KillifishLemon CichlidLeopard DanioLivingstoniMacmasteri Dwarf CichlidMaingano CichlidMalawi EyebiterMalaysian Trumpet SnailMarble HatchetfishMarlieri CichlidMedaka RicefishMollyMoonlight GouramiMultifasciatus Shell DwellerMystery SnailNeon TetraNerite SnailOcellatus Shell DwellerOdessa BarbPanda CorydorasParadise FishParaguay EartheaterPeacock CichlidPearl DanioPearl GouramiPeppered CorydorasPlatyPort CichlidPowder Blue CichlidRabbit SnailRainbow CichlidRamshorn SnailRed DevilRed EmpressRed RainbowfishRed Zebra CichlidRedhead CichlidRegan's JulieReticulated Hillstream LoachRosy BarbRubber Lip PlecoRummynose TetraRusty CichlidSailfin MollySalvini CichlidSaulosi CichlidSeverumSimilis Shell DwellerSpotted HoploStar SapphireSterbai CorydorasStrawberry RasboraSulawesi Cardinal ShrimpSunshine PeacockSveni EartheaterSwordtailT-Bar CichlidTaiwan Reef CichlidTexas CichlidThreadfin AcaraThreadfin RainbowfishThree-spot GouramiTurquoise RainbowfishUaru (Triangle Cichlid)Venustus (Giraffe Cichlid)White Cloud Mountain MinnowWrestling HalfbeakZebra DanioZebra MbunaZebra Pleco
Avoid (44)
Adonis PlecoBala SharkBlack Moor GoldfishBrichardi (Fairy Cichlid)Calvus CichlidClown LoachComet GoldfishCommon GoldfishCommon PlecoCompressiceps CichlidCyprichromisDemon EartheaterDuboisi TropheusEndlicheri BichirFantail GoldfishFrontosaGoby CichlidGreen Spotted PufferfishIridescent SharkJaguar CichlidKoiMalawi HawkMasked JulieOranda GoldfishOrnate BichirOscarPeacock BassPike CichlidRanchu GoldfishRed TerrorReticulated Flying FoxRostratusRosy Red MinnowRoyal PlecoRyukin GoldfishSailfin PlecoSand-sifting XenotilapiaShubunkin GoldfishSilver ArowanaSilver MoonyTelescope GoldfishThreadfin PetrochromisTropheusWolf Cichlid
Computed by the AquaSage engine for a spacious reference tank — always check the full verdict for your exact setup in the calculator.
Full tank-mates guide with reasons →Telling males from females
What works for this species, most reliable first.
- Bristles and cheek spinesStrong · from about a year
Male plecos grow odontodes — spiny growths on the cheeks and along the leading pectoral rays. Bristlenose males additionally grow branching tentacles across the snout and over the top of the head.
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Frequently asked questions
- What tank size does a Bristlenose Pleco need?
- A Bristlenose Pleco needs an aquarium of at least 110 litres (29.1 US gallons) with a footprint at least 80 cm (31.5 in) long — for this species, swimming length matters as much as raw volume.
- What water parameters does a Bristlenose Pleco need?
- Bristlenose Pleco does best at 22–28 °C (71.6–82.4 °F), pH 6–7.8 and a general hardness of 2–20 °dGH.
- Is the Bristlenose Pleco suitable for beginners?
- Yes — Bristlenose Pleco is one of the easier species to keep and forgives typical first-tank mistakes, as long as the aquarium is cycled and maintained.
Sources
Water & tank
Temperature22–28°C
Optimal temp.23–26°C
pH6–7.8
Hardness (GH)2–20°d
Carbonate (KH)1–12°d
Adult size13 cm
Min. volume≥ 110 L
Min. tank length≥ 80 cm
Swimming zoneBottom
TemperamentPeaceful
Water typeFreshwater
FlowModerate
Lifespan~10 yrs
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