🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐡 Bristlenose Pleco Ancistrus cirrhosus

Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus) — male
Male
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus) — female
Female

The Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus) is a easy-care, peaceful species from South America. Adults reach roughly 5", so plan on a minimum tank of 30 gallons. Keep the water between 73–81°F with a pH of 6–7.8. It does not school and can be kept singly or in species-appropriate numbers. As a herbivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size5"
Minimum tank30 gallons
Temperature73–81°F
pH6–7.8
TemperamentPeaceful
SchoolingNo
DietHerbivore
Care levelEasy
OriginSouth America
Shop 30-gallon setupsFilterWater test kit

Good tankmates for Bristlenose Pleco

Rummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraPlatyMollySwordtailAngelfishGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisTiger BarbRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishCongo TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishKissing GouramiMoonlight GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidAcei CichlidPeacock CichlidJulidochromisSterbai CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterBala SharkRainbow SharkFlying FoxAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishFancy GoldfishBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraSilver DollarRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidAgassiz's Dwarf CichlidHongsloi CichlidCheckerboard CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidCompressed CichlidBrichardiCalvus CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryStriped Raphael CatfishDwarf Chain LoachWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

DiscusOscarWhite Cloud MinnowCherry ShrimpJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirCommon GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond Shrimp

See the full tankmate guide for Bristlenose Pleco →