Starlight bristlenose, Ancistrus dolichopterus

Plecos · Ancistrus

Starlight bristlenose L183

Ancistrus dolichopterus · Rio Negro, Brazil

Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA, via iNaturalist

Black with white stars and white fin edges. The prettiest bristlenose, but it prefers cooler, soft water.

The Starlight bristlenose L183 (Ancistrus dolichopterus) is a freshwater fish from Rio Negro, Brazil, where it lives in river habitat. Adults reach about 15 cm (5.9 in). Keep it at 23–28 °C (73–82 °F) and pH 5.5–7.5, with a gentle current. It is peaceful. It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

At a glance

Water temperature

23–28 °C 73–82 °F

5.5–7.5 neutral water

Adult size

15 cm 5.9 in

Swims

Bottom mostly on the floor and in caves

Current

Gentle a steady gentle flow

Food

Eats most foods

Temperament

Peaceful

≈ Every value here is an estimate from typical hobby ranges. We're checking them against sources.

Where it comes from

Home water

Rio Negro, Brazil

Negro

Lives in river habitat.

The dot marks where it's collected. Map: Natural Earth.

Starlight bristlenose

L183

≈

Plecos · AncistrusUncommon

23–28°C
pH 5.5–7.5
Gentle
6 in
Bottom
Mixed
Peaceful

Black with white stars and white fin edges.

Starlight bristlenose

L183

Ancistrus dolichopterus

Rio Negro, Brazil · river

Temperature: 23–28°C
pH: 5.5–7.5
Adult size: 6 in · 15 cm
Flow: Gentle
Swims: Bottom
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Easy–moderate
Typical price: $25–80
In Canada: Occasional
Rarity: Uncommon

Black with white stars and white fin edges. The prettiest bristlenose, but it prefers cooler, soft water.

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Photo: Alberto Mejia-Paniagua, CC BY NC SA

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Tank mates

Checked against a roomy 300 L planted tank with moderate flow and plenty of caves. Your own tank may change the answer: try it in Your tanks.

Good together

Keep apart

Aggressive

Galaxy vampire L029 Guyana leopard cactus L600 Leopard cactus L114 Oscar Pea puffer Red-fin cactus L024 Scarlet cactus L025
Need different temperatures

White cloud mountain minnow

In the hobby

In stock now

Aquapets (Kowloon Aquarium), Scarborough · $80.00
L183 Starlight Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus Dolichopterus) · seen Sep 25

Search Kijiji for L183

Tanks with this fish

No shared tanks have this fish yet. Share yours from Your tanks.

From keepers

Notes appear here when a keeper shares a tank with this fish and writes about it.

Questions keepers ask

How big does a Starlight bristlenose L183 get?

About 15 cm (5.9 in) as an adult.

What temperature does a Starlight bristlenose L183 need?

23–28 °C (73–82 °F).

What pH does a Starlight bristlenose L183 need?

pH 5.5–7.5.

Is the Starlight bristlenose L183 aggressive?

No. It is peaceful with fish that suit the same water.

What does a Starlight bristlenose L183 eat?

It eats most foods: flakes, small pellets and frozen foods.

Where does the Starlight bristlenose L183 come from?

Rio Negro, Brazil.

What fish can live with a Starlight bristlenose L183?

Good tank mates include Candy stripe (L015), Leopard frog (L134), Amano shrimp, Boeseman's rainbowfish, Bolivian ram.

All the numbers

Temperature min (°C)	23	Estimate
Temperature max (°C)	28	Estimate
pH min	5.5	Genus default (genus)
pH max	7.5	Genus default (genus)
Adult size (cm)	15	Estimate
Flow	Moderate	Estimate
Habitat	river	Estimate
Temperament	Peaceful	Estimate
Diet	Omnivore	Estimate
Breeding difficulty	Easy–moderate	Estimate
Availability in Canada	occasional	Estimate
Typical price min (CAD)	25	Estimate
Typical price max (CAD)	80	Estimate

Some values are estimates from typical hobby ranges and haven't been checked against a source yet.