Author Archives: Paul_

Last week this very attractive variant of L 90 arrived from the vicinity of Juanjui (Peru). They are very intense light-dark patterned fishes with glowing red eyes . The white filaments of their caudal fin give them an additional elegance. Feeding with special food (shrimps, or red discus food)can change fin colors to a strong orange. All in all, a beautiful newcomer,
unfortunately only in small numbers available.

(Photo F.Schäfer, Text K.Diehl)

(19.Feb.2008) After a long break back in our stock: German offspring of L 173. This very rare Hypancistrus is probably the most closely with L 46 related species. As juveniles they look like zebras with an irregular stripe pattern. Their final size is a little larger than L 46 L also their clutches are larger. Since they share their habitat with some other Hypancistrus species, they should be kept like them.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

(28.Nov.2007)At the moment we have a group of nearly full-grown Hypostomus isbrueckeri in stock. The here pictured male is easily distinguishable from its partners by the bright colors of the caudal fin. This is probably the only Loricariid species which shows such a pronounced gender difference. Their origin is the border region Brazil, Argentina, and imports of them are rather rare. As recently some breeding attempts of big loricariids were succesful, ambitious breeders should also try to spawn this species. Since they originate from a region with a subtropical climate, they should not be kept all year round at high temperatures. A well-structured, unheated tank should be ideal for them. (Photo und Text K. Diehl)

(2nd.Nov.2007) For the first time we can offer Pseudacanthicus spec. Typhoon. This extremely attractive Cactus Pleco comes from Brazil, its origin is kept as a secret, so that no information concerning the river were they have been caught can be made. In the appearance they reminiscent of Pseudacanthicus spec. “Titanic” L 273, the colour (black body with orange-white stains), however, differs strongly from the Titanics. Remarkable are the wonderful long, orange-coloured filaments of the caudal fin, as well as the orange tip of the dorsal fin. Photos of the exporter can prove that they reach a size of > 30 cm and are still very attractive.

(Photo R.Neunkirchen, Text K.Diehl)

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.

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)

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

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 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)

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)