Author Archives: Paul_

March 2007: Freshly arrived: Beautiful German breds of L 173. For the first time we can offer thereby more than a “handful” of these wonderful rare pieces. The large variability of their pattern is remarkable. The bluish glow is common in all the white of their fins. (Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

Pseudancistrus spec. L 259 originates from the surrounding of the city Pimental at the Rio Tapajos. As all Pseudancistrus species the males of L 259 show a characteristic “beard” of Odontodes (dermal teeth) during the spawning season. Contrary to the popular Hypancistrus species L 259 are vegetarians. Therefore Zucchini, cucumbers and further vegetables should be added to the offered regular food (flakes and frosted food). With a size of 20cm they rank among the medium sized suckermouth catfish. Since males can get occasionally quite aggressive, roomy aquariums are needed. For maintenance higher temperatures (26 – 30°C) are recommended. There are no reports on a successful breeding in this species, so that suckermouth enthusiasts will surely discover some interesting news.

(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

This ancistrus, which supposedly originates from Colombia, exhibits similarities to L 89, but like L 156 has round spots arranged in a honeycomb pattern. Unlike these other two L-numbers, L 111 has a uniformly marked iris ring and light/dark grey striped pectoral fin spines. This catfish is said to grow to about 10 cm, and so far the only photo in existence is of a female fish as shown in the Aqualog reference book “all L-numbers”- keeping and breeding of this species is like its distant cousin the bristlenose catfish, although the more recent imported species are generally more sensitive then the well known aquarium cleaner fish.

(Photo: Frank Schäfer, Text: Izaak den Daas)

April 2005: Only one fish of the albino form of the well-known „Titanic Catfish“ was imported from Belem (Brazil). L 273 is normally extremely variably coloured from fish to fish. As well as splendid specimens with contrasting dark grey/yellow plus orange colouration there are also individuals that are predominantly mouse grey with black dots and have only orange fin tips. This unique deep yellow specimen is a new variety. We can only hope that in future this albino variety can be offered in larger quantities. L 273 grows to more than 30 cm long and need therefore large fish tanks. This species is very territorial and will defend its living space against other fish of the same species. Against other aquarium inhabitants this catfish is peaceful.(Text: I. den Daas, Photo: E.Schraml)

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)

The 5 species of the genus Crossoloricaria are all looking very similar to the flounder Loricariid genus Pseudohemiodon. These fish have as well a flattened body form, small eyes lying distally on the triangularly formed head. The difference between these two genii is the missing of the ventral bony plates of Crossoloricaria. Only at the medial line of the ventral side there is a small row of tiny bony plates. C. cephalispis does not grow larger then 20 cm. They absolutely need a sandy substrate, in which they can bury themselves as deep as possible. This means that they often are difficult to spot at all. When they are new in the aquarium they only come out of the sand during the night, but after a period of acclimatisation they appear at feeding time. This species also originates from the north of Colombia.(Text: I. den Daas, Photo: F. Schäfer)

Loricaria simillima has a very wide distribution in South America. It is found in the Orinoco-, Amazon- and La Plata basins. A result of this large area many different color forms are known, which differ clearly regarding coloration and pattern. The species occurs in different water types. Black water forms are more demanding in maintenance and breeding than fishes originating from white water. For keeping them middlehard water with a pH of 6 – 8 and temperatures between 24 – 27°C is sufficient. As omnivorous fishes they are rather undemanding in their nutrition, tablet food, flakes and frosted food are accepted. The aquarium should have a sandy soil, some dark corners made by stones and bogwood increase the comfort for the fish. With a total length of 25 cm they should be kept in not to small tanks, they are mouthbrooders, the male guards the eggs and larvae.(Photo F. Schäfer, Text K. Diehl)

For our customers: the fish have code 266653 on our stocklist.Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexikon: Loricaria: from the Latin word „lorica“which is the chest protector of the Roman legionnaire, eg „one that wears a chest protector“. simillima: Latin, means “very similiar”, which refers to the similarity of the species to L. cataphracta.

Suggestion of a common name: Royal Whiptail Cat

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)

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)

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)

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.

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)

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

This rarely imported catfish species originates from the federal states Bahia and Espirito Santo at the coast of brazil. With only 3cm of total length it belongs to the smallest Loricariids. There habitats are small and fast running streams. They mostly stay in areas thickly covered with vegetation. Otothyris travassosi is not a fish for a beginner. It makes great demands on the water quality/hygiene. Also the temperature of the water should not be too high (19-25°C). According to several different authors it is found in White- as well as Clearwater. In details of the place where it was found ph-values just under 7 and conductivities between 100 – 150 µs/cm can be meas-ured. Make sure of a good care with vegetable foodstuffs, also fine living food is ac-cepted. Nothing is known about successful breeding.

(Photo: Erwin Schraml, Text: Klaus Diehl)