Baryancistrus
Encyclopedia
Baryancistrus is a genus
of freshwater
Loricariid
catfish
. They inhabit regions of the Amazon river
in countries such as Brazil
and Venezuela
.
Most Baryancistrus are differentiated from other related genera by a membrane connecting their dorsal fin and adipose fin, not present in most other genera.
The species of this genus are mainly herbivore
s and detritivore
s, but may take other foods too. Most have probably not been bred in captivity. It is difficult to sex these fish, including adult specimen. These fish are mainly nocturnal
, but will also emerge from their hiding places during the day, after some time getting accustomed to the aquarium
. They will benefit from plenty of hiding places.
. Catfish of this species are often referred to as Golden nuggets. They occur naturally in the Xingu River
. They grow slowly. They are popular aquarium fish, though they demand a high water quality
.
The ideal temperature
is 25–30 °C (77–86 F), and the pH
should be between 6,5 - 7,4.
There are three types of Gold Nuggets in the aquarium trade; L-018 (also known as L-085), L-081 and L-177. Whether these are separate species, or subspecies of a single one, has not yet been determined. The Golden nuggets are described with L-number
s in wait of a proper scientific classification.
They are territorial
toward other bottom dwellers.
system, including the Gold Nuggets. Here is a list of Baryancistrus by L-number designation. The common name and scientific name are included when available, though some of these fish are only commonly referred to by their L-number. For those fish without a scientific name, they are assumed to be Baryancistrus sp.
* Note: L200 is also used to refer to Hemiancistrus subviridis, another Loricariid that is very similar in appearance.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of freshwater
Freshwater
Fresh water is naturally occurring water on the Earth's surface in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, bogs, ponds, lakes, rivers and streams, and underground as groundwater in aquifers and underground streams. Fresh water is generally characterized by having low concentrations of dissolved salts and...
Loricariid
Loricariidae
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish , with almost 700 species and new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and...
catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
. They inhabit regions of the Amazon river
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
in countries such as Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
.
Most Baryancistrus are differentiated from other related genera by a membrane connecting their dorsal fin and adipose fin, not present in most other genera.
The species of this genus are mainly herbivore
Herbivore
Herbivores are organisms that are anatomically and physiologically adapted to eat plant-based foods. Herbivory is a form of consumption in which an organism principally eats autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria. More generally, organisms that feed on autotrophs in...
s and detritivore
Detritivore
Detritivores, also known as detritophages or detritus feeders or detritus eaters or saprophages, are heterotrophs that obtain nutrients by consuming detritus . By doing so, they contribute to decomposition and the nutrient cycles...
s, but may take other foods too. Most have probably not been bred in captivity. It is difficult to sex these fish, including adult specimen. These fish are mainly nocturnal
Nocturnal animal
Nocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by activity during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal"....
, but will also emerge from their hiding places during the day, after some time getting accustomed to the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
. They will benefit from plenty of hiding places.
Gold Nugget plecos
Baryancistrus includes the species Baryancistrus xanthellusBaryancistrus xanthellus
Baryancistrus xanthellus is a species of Loricaria in the Ancistrini tribus.It is a benthic fresh water fish that lives i Rio Xingu in the Amazon system...
. Catfish of this species are often referred to as Golden nuggets. They occur naturally in the Xingu River
Xingu River
The Xingu River , also called Rio Xingu, is a 1,230-mile long, river in north Brazil; it is a southeast tributary of the Amazon River.-Description and history:...
. They grow slowly. They are popular aquarium fish, though they demand a high water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
.
The ideal temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
is 25–30 °C (77–86 F), and the pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
should be between 6,5 - 7,4.
There are three types of Gold Nuggets in the aquarium trade; L-018 (also known as L-085), L-081 and L-177. Whether these are separate species, or subspecies of a single one, has not yet been determined. The Golden nuggets are described with L-number
L-number
The L-number system is a semi-scientific classification system of catfish based on photographs of shipments of tropical catfish of the family Loricariidae published by the aquarium magazine DATZ ....
s in wait of a proper scientific classification.
- L-081 has small dots.
- L-018/L-085 has medium-sized dots.
- L-177 has large dots.
They are territorial
Territory (animal)
In ethology the term territory refers to any sociographical area that an animal of a particular species consistently defends against conspecifics...
toward other bottom dwellers.
List of Baryancistrus sp. L-numbers
Though there are many types of fish described as Baryancistrus, there are many that yet to be given a true scientific designation, and are only referred to under the L-numberL-number
The L-number system is a semi-scientific classification system of catfish based on photographs of shipments of tropical catfish of the family Loricariidae published by the aquarium magazine DATZ ....
system, including the Gold Nuggets. Here is a list of Baryancistrus by L-number designation. The common name and scientific name are included when available, though some of these fish are only commonly referred to by their L-number. For those fish without a scientific name, they are assumed to be Baryancistrus sp.
| L-number(s) or LDA | Common name(s) | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|
| L003 | Kieser pleco | |
| L018, L085 | Gold Nugget pleco | Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus is a species of Loricaria in the Ancistrini tribus.It is a benthic fresh water fish that lives i Rio Xingu in the Amazon system... |
| L019 | ||
| L026 | Baryancistrus niveatus | |
| L047 | Magnum pleco, Mango pleco | |
| L057 | ||
| L081 | Gold Nugget pleco | Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus is a species of Loricaria in the Ancistrini tribus.It is a benthic fresh water fish that lives i Rio Xingu in the Amazon system... |
| L084 | ||
| L115, L248 | Mega snowball pleco | |
| L142, LDA33 | Big White Spot pleco | |
| L177 | Iriri Gold Nugget pleco | Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus is a species of Loricaria in the Ancistrini tribus.It is a benthic fresh water fish that lives i Rio Xingu in the Amazon system... |
| L200* | Baryancistrus demantoides | |
| L219 | ||
| L274 | ||
| L293 | Blue Panaque | Baryancistrus beggini |
| L319 | ||
| L323 | ||
| L324 | ||
| L364 | ||
| L384 | ||
| LDA60 | gold nugget | Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus Baryancistrus xanthellus is a species of Loricaria in the Ancistrini tribus.It is a benthic fresh water fish that lives i Rio Xingu in the Amazon system... |