Description
Ancistrus dolichopterus, the starlight ancistrus or L183, is a bristlenose of the middle and lower rio Negro in Brazil that is told apart from the rest by having nine soft dorsal-fin rays. Its name has been applied for years to the common bristlenose and to other similar species, so it is worth knowing what is being bought.
It lives in blackwater streams and, like the rest of the genus, feeds on biofilm and wood.
Behavior
Relatively peaceful, but territorial with its own species and with similarly shaped fish. Adult males have tentacles on the head and odontodes on the pectoral fins; females do not.
It lives well with tetras, rasboras, corydoras and other calm, warm-water fish.
Avoid housing it with several males in a small tank or with other loricariids of similar appearance.
Habitat
Ancistrus dolichopterus appears endemic to the middle and lower rio Negro in Brazil, where it inhabits blackwater streams, acidic and stained.
Wood to rasp and hide in, dried leaves, warm water and dim light bring it closer to its setting.
Details
🌊 Water parameters
🐠 Minimum tank size
Breeding
A cave spawner, with the male in charge of guarding the spawn. Breeding it needs tubes or caves sized for a fish of this calibre, and warm, well-oxygenated water.
Diet
An omnivore that rasps wood and biofilm.
- Staple: sinking algae or vegetable tablets.
- Supplement: blanched vegetables, such as courgette or cucumber, and wood in the tank.
Without wood or fibre, digestion suffers.
What about your tank?
Enter your tank's values to see only the compatible species that fit them. Litres apply to fish.
Compatible fish
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–8 and 23–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 24–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 27–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 25–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 24–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–8 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.6–7.2 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5–6.5 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5–8 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–8 and 24–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 6–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–8 and 24–27 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
Compatible invertebrates
General guidance based on water parameters, behaviour and known exceptions; always review the individual animals' and aquarium's specific needs.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 5.5–6.5 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–25 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 24–29 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 26–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 5.8–6.8 and 23–24 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–27 °C.
They share water: pH 7.5–8 and 27–30 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–7.5 and 23–26 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 6.5–8 and 23–28 °C.
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.JPG){kind=link}
_02.jpg){kind=link}
_-_360070513.jpeg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
_1.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
They share water: pH 7–8 and 23–28 °C.
Sources
- FishBaseFroese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2026. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
- Seriously FishSeriously Fish. Ancistrus dolichopterus. Ficha de especie; consultada 2026-10.
Water: FishBase gives pH 6-8, 5-19 dH and 23-27 °C; Seriously Fish, pH 5-7, 1-10 dGH and 26-30 °C. The profile uses the widest range. Size: 14.5 cm SL in FishBase and 20 cm SL in Seriously Fish; the larger is taken. Seriously Fish assigns it the code L183. The name dolichopterus has also been used for the common bristlenose and for other similar species, and much of the literature confuses them.
Litres per fish and minimum tank height and depth: the profile's own judgement. Seriously Fish gives only the tank base and FishBase gives no tank sizes.
Plan your next aquarium
Is this fish right for you? Plan a suitable aquarium before setting it up.