The humble bristle nose is one of the most commonly kept aquarium fish. They are a keenly sort after addition to aid in algae control and to form part of the “clean up crew”, consuming uneaten food.

There are over 50 species of Ancistrus catfish, some of which are difficult to distinguish from each other.

Being a mostly nocturnal species, dark gravels/sand is a great choice in substrate. The provision of caves and similar structures will aid in providing security. These home sites may include hollow logs/branches, coconut shells, rock piles or artificial items such as terracotta and ceramic pots.

By nature, these fish rasp wood, therefore suitable pieces should be included. Wood also provides a great medium for algae to grow on.

Young Long Fins - to young to breed

This in my opinion is one of the most difficult whiptail species to identify with any great certainty as being easy to breed they are abundant in show and club auctions and are just sold as Rineloricaria, they could be anyone of half a dozen species or even crosses between two close species as a few of them have the cross banding on the body area but in the main H. parva should have double extensions to the caudal lobes.

Provide a good vegetable diet for the adults such as cucumber, courgette (zucchini) and also sinking tablet food. Fry can be reared on the same foods after a start on brine shrimp and blanched lettuce leaves.

There are at present 36 species of Farlowella with F.acus, F.vittata and F.gracillis being the most commonly exported varieties.

The genus name of Farlowella is named in honour of William Gibson Farlow the famous American botanist of the last century, and the beginning of the 21st, who's main work was actually working with algae plants which brings us to the one of the most favourite foods of this slender catfish "algae".

It is quite difficult to get a right balance in feeding this species as greens are predominately its main food and they do not do all that great on meaty foods such as bloodworm, frozen or live, or any other types of worm food, algae wafers are another good possibility.

Water quality is another issue as Farowella do not take kindly either to large wholesale water changes as they quickly succumb to the shock of such an action. A better idea is to make two or three small water changes per week with aged water so as not to upset their equilibrium.

An easy catfish to keep? no I don't think so as there have been many unexplained deaths attributed to this species (myself included) and as such would need dedicated care from an experienced catfish keeper who has worked with this species or its close cousin from the Sturisoma genera.

As this is a very timid species, if housed with other inhabitants you would be better keeping away from boisterous fish such as some of the Barb species (such as tigers) and definately Cichlids.

Better companions would be the unobstrusive Corydoras species and small Characins or Rasboras.