Super White Bristlenose Pleco Ancistrus 3cm

Overview

The Super White Bristlenose Pleco is a pale, creamy-white form of the common bristlenose with dark or blue-tinted eyes, sometimes sold under the code L144. It is a tank-bred variety descended from South American Ancistrus, keeping the hardy nature and algae-grazing habit of its ancestors. Well suited to peaceful community aquariums of all sizes.

• Adult Size: Around 10–12 cm (4–5 in); females slightly smaller
• Lifespan: 5–8 years, sometimes longer

Origin

• Native to: Tank-bred; wild ancestors from South American rivers
• Habitat: Flowing, oxygen-rich water with wood and rocks

Feeding

• Diet: Omnivorous, mainly vegetable matter
• Preferred Foods: Algae wafers, catfish pellets, cucumber, peas, lettuce, frozen foods
• Feeding Habits: Feed after lights out; keep bogwood available for grazing

Tank Mates

• Best with: Small and medium community fish, corydoras, tetras, rasboras
• Avoid: Large cichlids, aggressive bottom-dwellers, boisterous bullies

Aggression & Behaviour

• Temperament: Peaceful and mostly solitary
• Territoriality: Minor scuffles with other loricariids; give space and caves

Experience Level

• Difficulty: Beginner
• Challenges: Must go into a mature tank; pale fish show stress easily

Water Parameters

• Water Type: Freshwater, soft to moderately hard
• Temperature: 21–26°C (70–79°F)
• pH: 5.5–7.5
• Hardness: 1–15 dGH
• Flow: Moderate, well oxygenated
• Tank Size: Minimum 60 litres for one or a pair; larger for groups

Final Notes

The pale-eyed lines once labelled L144 have been crossed extensively into domestic bristlenose stock, so treat this as a colour form rather than a distinct species. Older males grow bushy head tentacles; females stay smooth. Bogwood is essential, as the fish extract lignin from it. It is a cave spawner with paternal care and will breed readily in a community tank. Plants are safe alongside it.