Easy
Bristle-Nose catfish red+black (Ancistrus sp. red + black)
23–28°C · pH 6–7.5 · 60L
£9.99
L200 Chaetostomus sp. — a peaceful cool-water pleco that grazes biofilm in clean, oxygen-rich tanks. Moderate care. 20–24°C, pH 6–7.1.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
L200 Chaetostomus sp.
L200 Chaetostomus sp. are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
L200 Chaetostomus sp. — a peaceful cool-water pleco that grazes biofilm in clean, oxygen-rich tanks. Moderate care. 20–24°C, pH 6–7.1.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Listed under the collector code L200, this Chaetostomus sp. is a compact Andean pleco that brings the grazing habits of a mountain-stream catfish to the home aquarium. Like its relatives it is happiest where the water is cool, clean and well oxygenated, so it is a great pick for keepers running a temperate, current-driven tank.
It grows to around 7 cm and can live for about eight years. Its feeding is biofilm- and aufwuchs-focused — it grazes the thin layer of algae and micro-life that coats surfaces — and as an omnivore it also takes prepared and vegetable-based foods. Peaceful and unobtrusive, it spends its days working over rocks and wood near the bottom.
Provide at least 100 litres with smooth rockwork, driftwood and brisk, oxygen-rich flow. Cooler, slightly acidic water in the listed range mirrors its natural home and keeps it active, with hardness held between 2 and 12 dGH and temperatures kept down at 20 to 24°C rather than full tropical warmth.
A question buyers often raise is how this L200 compares to other plecos for a planted setup, and the key point is its cool-water requirement, which pairs it best with temperate-tolerant companions rather than heat-loving tropicals. Given those conditions and plenty of grazing surfaces it stays busy and healthy, reaching around 7 cm and living for up to eight years.
This L200 settles in well alongside small peaceful tetras and rasboras, peaceful midwater community fish, and other non-aggressive community species. Keep it away from large aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species, highly territorial bottom fish, and very boisterous or predatory tankmates. Because it is peaceful and stays modest in size, it slots neatly into a calm temperate community, with its cool-water preference being the main factor that decides which companions will share the tank happily. Each L200 Chaetostomus ships with a licensed live-animal courier and is covered by our live arrival guarantee.
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