Data sheet L144 Catfish

German name:
L144 Catfish

Scientific name:
ancistrus

Origin:
South America

Size:
Body length 12cm – 15cm

Aquarium

Length:
Length from 80 cm width and from 40 cm width

Contents:
112 liters

water values

Temperature:
22°C – 27°C

pH:
5.5 – 7.5

GH:
0° – 20° dH

Behave

Area:
lower area

Lining:
live and frozen food

Behave:
calm, peaceful

Number:
Group, 6-10 animals

Difficulty level:
Beginner

Origin

The home of the L 144 catfish is in northern and central South America. There, the fish live in running water, but also in standing water in flood areas and swamps.

The commercially available species are the golden black-eyed catfish. Pure L144 species, on the other hand, are hardly available.

Look

The fish species got its name because of the yellowish body color and the impressive, antler-like tentacles (antennae) on the anterior part of the head of sexually mature males. It is characteristic Contrast between the yellow body color and the black eyes. With the large suction mouth and the numerous fine teeth, the species can easily hold on to smooth objects.

attitude

L 144 catfish are calm, peaceful and adaptable tank residents. At the beginning of the attitude they show themselves shy. But if they are given enough time to acclimate, they will lose their restraint and will also be out and about in the aquarium during the day.

The species-appropriate aquarium has an edge length of 80 centimeters or more, whereby the size must be adjusted to the number of fish! The water quality is clear, oxygen-rich and has a current. The warm temperatures are between 22 and 27° Celsius, the pH between 5.5 and 7.5 and the hardness range between 2 and 20° dGH.

The Facility is well structured. There is an open space, in one area various hiding and resting places for all residents and a background planting of filigree plants. The hiding places consist of caves in the form of built-up stones, roots and narrow bamboo tubes open on one side. The spawning females also use these as a safe breeding ground for their offspring.

The Bottom has a higher fine sand layer from round grain. There the catfish can with relish search for leftover foodwithout hurting their sensitive barbels.

food

The animals are omnivore and can be easily accustomed to any commercially available high-quality live food, frozen food and granules for catfish. In addition to animal feed, they also take various types of vegetables such as cucumber, lettuce, peppers and spinach.

Important Additional food is a soft bog pine root: These grate off the catfish and contain valuable cellulose, which they need for a functioning digestive system.

By the way: The right food must always be of high quality. Only then will the fish remain healthy and vital. Cheap products are often inferior and only fill you up. They contain unhealthy additives and too few valuable nutrients. Since these are also usually poorly digested, some of the nutrients end up in the water via the faeces and ensure strong algae growth and germ formation. The consequences are exhaustion, allergies, diseases and even the smallest injuries in the mouth area of ​​the animals.

gender differences

Females are smaller and more corpulent as male. The sexually mature Males have tentacles on their heads. They have longer interoperculaodontodes and several odontodes on the pectoral fin ray.

breed

If the conditions are right, the L 144 catfish will reproduce in the aquarium without any problems. Before spawning, the male cleans the cave (bamboo tube open on one side) and then pushes the carrying female inside. About 100 eggs are laid. After the process, the male takes care of the brood. He flaps his fins to wag fresh water at the eggs.

The larvae hatch after about seven days. They remain in the cavity and feed on the yolk sac. After this is used up, the fully developed hatchlings swim freely. They are already able to hold on to smooth surfaces with their sucking jaws.

From now on they can be supplied with fine spinach, artemia or food tablets. They grow very slowly.

socialization

Ancistrus are calm and peaceful. You can very well live with peersbut also other peaceful ornamental fish and shrimp are good companions.

If kept appropriate to the species, L 144 catfish can enter Age up to 10 years to reach.