Author Archives: Paul_

Our photo shows a pair of Ancistrus spec. L 352, one with 6 – 7 cm very small remaining loricariid from the Rio Iriri. In the view from above the different body forms can easily be be recognized. This and the characteristic beard of the males makes a differentiating of the sexes quite easy. As the high L number rightfully let assume, they were imported for the first time only a few years ago and until now only rarely traded.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

„Simply the Best “: Some days ago we could import some of this beauties. With a size of approx. 10cm the white of the here illustrated male shows a fantastic intensity. It seems that one of imported fishes is a not less beautiful female, and so we hope to be able to offer some days breds of these rarities(Photo and Text K. Diehl)

December 2006: Last week received we a really impressive, male Scobiancistrus aureatus. With a length of about 30 cm it might be attained full growth. The strong spines on the gill cover (Interopercularodontodes), as well as on their pectoral fins are remarkable. As most L-catfishes from the Rio Xingu they like warmer waters, for their maintenance the water temperature should not fall durably below 26°C . For breeding, which did not succeed as far as I know yet, there must be surely higher temperatures, most L-catfishes from the Xingu are bred at temperatures between 28°C and 30°C .

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Pterosturiosoma microps is one of the regularly imported Loricariidae from Peru, although not in bigger quantities. Even though it is more impressing in colour by its soft black-grey, it can still arouse enthusiasm by its remarkable appearance and its impressive but graceful fins. But its steady nursing is not quite easy. Whereas the acclimatization probably seems to be the most problematic part, as it is difficult to get the fish used to food substitute and/or they could possibly be pre-injured by the catch or transport. The type of food is surely tainted with a certain risk, because during the first time these fish persistencely refuse to frequent a sandy or graveled ground or other decoration materials. This means they only eat what they find on waveless surfaces. Therefore it is recommended not to use ground during the quarantine, in order to get the animals into a good condition. When the fish got used to the life in the aquarium and when they recovered from the strains of transport, a nursing in a well-decorated and planted aquarium will be simple. Roots or the broad leaves of Vallisneria gigantea for example could be the prefered residences. As these catfish grow to a length of 20cm, the nursing tank should include 250 l. Unfortunately P. microps can be only socialized with really peaceful fish, which do not fight with him for food, because it does not have any self-assertion. If you meet its requirements, P. microps can be an absolutely recommendable fish, but it surely is not an easy to keep fish. (Photo & Text von T. Weidner)

From Colombia we could import expressed beautiful L 200 High Fin. Now we have very attractive partially completely yellow colored specimen of the species Baryancistrus demantoides in stock. They will get only about 15 cm long and remain thereby substantially smaller than the also with the number L the 200 labeled Hemiancistrus subviridis. Compared with the more often maintained Hypancistrus „species” they are quite little shy and do not only appear while feeding. Their aggressiveness is limited, so that they can be already maintained in a meter tank (Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

November 2006: At Christmas we would like to present a star at the catfish heaven. We can offer some offspring of the queen imperial zebra Hypancistrus spec. L 236x, a beautiful and very looked for species. They come from a German breeder, who had the luck that the two from us imported animals formed a pair. In their appearance they are very variable, differ however at the less stretched body form and at the stronger contrast clearly of the at 09.12.05 introduced Hypancistrus spec. “Belo Monte”. In their maintenance requirements they correspond to other Hypancistrus species of the L 66 group. The breeder told us that they are a little quarrelsome, so that the aquariums should not be selected too small. There will be only extremely sporadically imports of this species and so we hope, that engaged hobbyists will take care of this species and secure the conservation of the aquarium population.

(Photo & Text K. Diehl)

April 2007: We received a particularly beautiful easter surprise this week from Colombia. The representative of the genus Leporacanthicus illustrated here is probably the first and only specimen on the market. It reminds of the in the Orinoco occurring L 240 and L 241, as well as of Leporacanthicus cf. “Venezuela”. But its white spots are larger and the portion of white color is higher. Whether it is a color mutant of the well-known Leporacanthicus species or a new „species “, cannot be judged on the basis of a single specimen. Its expressed attractiveness stands however except question.

As a further german bred rarity we can offer Rineloricaria melini at present. Our specimen of the probably most attractive Rineloricaria species have with 9 – 12 cm length already attained full growth and are of outstanding quality. Their origin is the area of the Rio Negro where they live in black water biotopes. Like all Rineloricaria species they are cave spawners in the male gender. An aquarium for Rineloricarias should have densely planted zones, and also open areas and some caves. They are omnivores, which need both vegetable and animal food.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Freshly arrived from Colombia: the Megaclown L 340. We can offer one of the most beautiful and at the same time most variable Hypancistrus “species” in very good quality. The animals already reached maturity, so that the outstanding contrast should remain. In their requirements for maintenance they do not differ from their Brazilian cousins, warm, well filtered and oxygen-rich water, as well as a varied feeding secure their well-being.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Liposarcus pardalis has enormous area of origin that enclosure nearly the entire Amazon basin. It is found in different waters types, herefrom results a large adaptability for the maintenance in aquaria.
According to the size (> 40cm) enormous food quantities are consumed. In Southeast Asia they are bred in large numbers and so wild caughts are only rarely traded. All the more beautifully it is to get some splendourful drawn adolescent wild caught.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Spectracanthicus zuanoni L 354 originates from Rio Xingu and the Rio Iriri in Brazil. It has been described scientifically only in 2014 (see http://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/archiv.php?news_id=1195). The fish belongs to the same species as L 20, with however clearly larger white marks, so that the design reminds of a black net on a bright background. The reddish, large eyes form a beautiful contrast.

A characteristic for the former Oligancistrus species is the large dorsal fin, therefore the name Sailfinloricariids suggested by Seidel appears as very applicable for this group. Since Spectracanthicus species are found in shallow water zones with fast flowing water, they place high requirements against the water quality. As many other Loricariids from this region they should be kept at higher temperatures.

It should be paid attention on their nutrition. A too rich food with a high protein content can lead in the long term to liver damages.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 254-3 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade. Available in very limited numbers only!

Photos: F. Schäfer, Text: K. Diehl

July 2006 From southeast Brazil we could import some rare pieces from the relationship of the popular Otocinclus species. In its homeland Hisonotus ornatus inhabits with weeds infested waters. It may not be kept too warm. 24°C probably represents the reasonable upper limit. The requirements for their maintenance do not differ from those of the Otocinclus species: good filtering, predominantly vegetable nutrition and frequent water changes are the requirements for their well-being. a durable care(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

A remarkable species which came in in one of our import from Colombia. These fishes also originate from the Rio Chacu in the northern tip of the country. Because of the many bristles of the male this species has been falsely determined as Rineloricaria latirostris. A comparison with the pictures (see Mergus Catfish Atlas Part I) of the different species shows clearly the distinction, and will leave no room for doubts. This species is not demanding in the home aquarium and is breeding willingly when offered caves in the form of tubes. This is a productive fish and can easily lay 100 and even more eggs. The striking bristles on the head of the male are completely missing on the female. Also the basic colouration of the female is more lighter. The final length is approximately 18 cm. (Text: I. den Daas, Photo: F. Schäfer)

September 2003: This week we received from Brasil a really unique fish: L-81 HIGHFIN. Our supplier advised us to send this fish and it really was worth waiting….was it not?(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

This in the DATZ 12/05 introduced very beautiful Hypancistrus variant is at present in a small number available. The animals remind in their habitus of L 333 and with these are also occasionally confounded. In the figure they are more delicate, somewhat more stretched and reach only one overall length of maximally 12 cm, while L can reach 333 16 cm overall length. The most remarkable difference however is to see in the gold-yellow basic colour on that a dark-brown line pattern appears. In their requirements for maintenance they hardly differ from other Hypancistrus species. They like a meaty diet, are however not averse from occasional cucumber or zucchini feeding. With good water hygiene, temperatures over 27°C and a high oxygen content they are well maintained. Against the water parameters they do not place special requirements. They were bred by the author at pH 7.9, DGH 12, KH 6 and a conductivity of 350mS. The young fish grow slowly and seem to be somewhat more sensitive than L 333.

(Photo & Text K. Diehl)

This Chaetostoma species is imported in regular intervals from the upper Orinoco through Puerto Ayacucho. This catfish is very difficult to differentiate from L 147 and L 188. L 188 has often described in the literature as C. nudirostre. C. pearsi lives in fast streaming mountain brooks and therefore needs in the aquarium oxygen rich water. This species does not grow above 10 cm total length and is a typical aufwuchs eater, which means in nature it grazes algae but eats mainly the crustaceans, which live in the vegetation. In the aquarium it eats flake and tablet food as well. C. pearsi is a friendly fish but can become territorial against individuals of the same species. If one wants to keep more animals in the fish tank, hiding places are obligatory. (Text: I. den Daas, Photo: F. Schäfer)

As one of the early imported representatives of the so-called L-number catfishes L 66 has already an unbroken popularity. At present we can offer beside wild caughts also very beautiful german breds. Such bright grounded L 66 are at least as attractive as the most „newer“ Hypancistrus species. With a final size of approx. 15 cm they belong to the larger representatives of their genus, a smaller group of them can be maintained very well in tanks starting from 70cm length. As all Hypancistrus they are carnivores, a vegetarian complementary food is estimated. They do not clean tanks and their surrounding, for this task the long-known Ancistrus „dolichopterus“ are substantially better suitable.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

This for science unknown species was imported with a unique shipment from Colombia. Sturisoma sp. „Colombia“ was found in the Rio Chaco in the North of Colombia. This elegant Sturisoma species differs from the short finned species, which live on sandy habitats as well as from Sturisoma festivum by difference in colouration and body form. Obvious is the position of the dorsal fin, which is markedly set backwards, and standing straight up. The striking colour pattern gives us hope that this species will be imported more reglarly in future. The fish probably will be not getting much larger then 15 cm. (Text: I. den Daas, Photo: F. Schäfer)

From the Rio Jamanxim in Brazil we could import a small number of L 360 with nice yellow-orange fins. They are unproblematic in the maintenance need however a high portion of vegetables in their food. Similar as Panaques this over 30 cm large growing species specieseats large quantities ofr bogwood. A high performance filtering unit and frequent water changes are required for their well-being. Since they are quite rarely imported and maintained, no continuative information is known to us.

September 2006: Latterly we received this very rich contrasted male of an unknown Hypancistrus species. Certainly here exists a similarity to L 333 and also Hypancistrus spec. Xingu. It gets more and more difficult to attach single fishes to existing L numbers or to a known Hypancistrus species, because there are not enough hard criteria for a categorisation and at the moment regularly “new” Hypancistrus are coming in from Brazil.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

December 2005: After years when no Panaque cochliodon (Panaque suttoni, P. suttonorum) were imported, now again few individuals reach us. Whether environmental problems or the civil war in parts of Colombia are responsible for their non appearence, can not be judged from a distance. We are glad to see this in former times not rare species again. Their bright blue eyes on black body are singular and make up the special attraction of this species. To secure their tank existence breeding attempts would be interesting. However, even in former years, when they were not so rare no guaranteed breeding reports are known. Wood eater of this size (> 40cm) need large aquariums with very high performance filtering units, since substantial excrement quantities are produced. The vegetable part of the food should be high, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots and other vegetables are gladly eaten.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)