Starlight Bristlenose (Ancistrus Dolichopterus)
Native Location: South America
Climate: Freshwater
Maximum Size: 10 – 15cm (4 – 5.9inches)
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Omnivore
Breeding: Beginner
Temperature Range: 26 – 30℃ (79 – 86℉)
Preferred pH Range: 5.0 – 7.0
Minimum Aquarium Size: 151L (40 gallons)
Potential Tankmates: Tetras, Gouramis, Tiger Barbs
Care Level: Easy
Starlight Bristlenoses need large environments to be happy, and these bottom-dwelling fishes can be great additions to community tanks.
The diet of a Starlight is predominantly herbivores. As bottom-dwellers, they will not travel to higher levels in your tank to chase after food, the food must come to them, or they might not get food at all. Algae wafers or plant-based sinking pellets are a good choice for a rounded diet. The occasional treats of zucchini, cabbage, and cucumber are exciting for Starlights. As large fish, their diets will need to be high in fibre; make sure their meals are big enough. They will always want a snack of algae, so this makes them a great candidate for ‘algae control officer’; they will forage for it constantly. Starlights are awesome beginner fish and who you can keep with many other types of community fish. Keep with tankmates that will occupy the mid-top levels of your aquarium.
Male Starlights are extremely territorial when breeding, so they will need to be kept alone or with other female Bristlenoses. Starlights have a hardy nature which allows them to be comfortable in a variety of consistent water conditions. They will love spending most of their time scouring for algae. The rest of their time hiding in safe, cosy places. Rocks and driftwood make great decals. As Starlights are bottom-dwellers, use a soft and fine substrate to avoid belly injuries to your beloved fish.
Males will tend to grow faster than females, with the bristles on their noses being much larger. Starlights are one of the easiest plecos to breed at home. In a separate tank, a ratio of 1 male to 2 females will have the most success. A water change of 50% should induce spawning. A ‘cave’ will also have to be provided in the tank, as a pair will enter the cave and deposit eggs. Adult Starlights have no paternal instincts and will not hesitate to eat their young.
All our fish are quarantined on arrival for two weeks. During this time, they are treated for any possible diseases and given a complete health check to make sure they are health, happy and eating well before being placed in our display aquariums, ready for sale.
Dead on Arrival (DOA) Policy: In the unfortunate event that your fish arrives dead, please follow these steps: Within 12 hours of the delivery, take clear, unopened bag pictures showing the deceased fish. Send these photographs and your order number to our customer service email at getfish@thefishroom.co.nz or to our Facebook page and we will then offer a refund or store credit for the cost of the fish.
Two-Week Guarantee Policy: We stand behind the health and quality of our fish, which is why we offer a two-week guarantee starting from the day of delivery. If your fish dies within this time frame, adhere to the following procedure: Take clear photos of the deceased fish. Using a reliable test kit, document via a dated photo, water parameters (pH, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite levels). Please email us the photographs, water parameters, and order number to getfish@thefishroom.co.nz or our Facebook page. After reviewing your claim, if approved, we will issue a store credit for the cost of the fish. Our two-week guarantee does not cover fish deaths due to unsuitable water conditions, incompatible tank mates or “disasters” i.e. a heater overheating. We recommend thoroughly researching each fish species' needs before introducing them to your aquarium to prevent such situations.
Freight Charges: Please note that shipping or freight charges are non-refundable under all circumstances. We hope this guide makes our refund and guarantee process more understandable. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please get in touch with us at getfish@thefishroom.co.nz. We are always happy to assist. Thank you for choosing The Fish Room. Happy fish keeping!
