The Fussy Pleco's ~ Feeding Baryancistrus (Gold Nugget & Mangnum Plecos)

Baryancistrus has always been a difficult genus, containing the gold nugget pleco and the Magnum/Mango pleco this group is a challenging aquarium algae eater. This video is to discuss aspects of their care in aquariums with a focus on their diet and biology. These fishes like warm tropical temperatures, a lot of flow and largely a quiet setup.
Thank you for watching!
References:
Py-Daniel, L. R., Zuanon, J., & Oliveira, R. R. D. (2011). Two new ornamental loricariid catfishes of Baryancistrus from rio Xingu drainage (Siluriformes: Hypostominae). Neotropical Ichthyology, 9, 241-252.
Lujan, N. K., Winemiller, K. O., & Armbruster, J. W. (2012). Trophic diversity in the evolution and community assembly of loricariid catfishes. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 12(1), 1-13.
Lujan, N. K., Armbruster, J. W., Lovejoy, N. R., & López-Fernández, H. (2015). Multilocus molecular phylogeny of the suckermouth armored catfishes (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) with a focus on subfamily Hypostominae. Molecular phylogenetics and evolution, 82, 269-288.
#Lnumber #pleco #goldnugget #Baryancistrus

[@Bitemonsterlures]

Awesome job! Very informative. I’m working with xanthellus and ranunculus currently and have my group feeding very well.

[@FreshwaterIchthyology]

Thank you :) They are both brilliant species! Great fishes to watch with fascinating behaviours.

[@Bitemonsterlures]

@@FreshwaterIchthyology I would love to share my experience with these fishes. If you have any insight on sexing ranunclus feel free to share please.

[@FreshwaterIchthyology]

@@Bitemonsterlures If you want to share any experiences with the fishes I recommend the Facebook group: Pleco Keepers & Breeders. I'm an admin on it but there are many great people on the group. Once mature they are quite easy to sex from above, I'm not sure I have any photos but the males should have larger tentacles and a double row, females might be long but generally restricted to one row.

[@ezwaters5847]

These videos are great. And glad you mentioned gut biom. Think the majority of hobbyists (people in general) are unaware of the relationship between food and gut bacteria or gut health. I also strongly suspect that this is the route cause of a lot of fish illness.

[@FreshwaterIchthyology]

Thank you, I think gut biota is really important for all fishes but maybe some more then others. I do wonder what the influence is of how long fishes are kept on a general diet is over time. I find stunting common in Baryancistrus and I had one who lived 20 years and barely grew, was impossible to get the fish to recover. I can't help but think gut microbes are important there.

[@stevenbisset8717]

spirulina spinach wild garlic leaves blended slightly cooked and gelatin added then frozen I've found has helped pleco type fish I've had that have been finicky to feed plus look healthy after a few weeks on this food

[@jacquelinemcmillan2793]

I have a gold nugget not a tiny baby a fair size just bought whats best food to give him/her? Ive got sinking wafers freeze dried bloodworm bug bites and i knowbto give courgette etc what else please?

[@arowana_fish]

What was the name of the food you mentioned in your video that you are using?

[@FreshwaterIchthyology]

Repashy but their soilent green for most fishes.

[@JEFFSAquatics1]

The sad reality is people buy them when they're small think they are a cleaner fish and never fed properly I don't ever see large adults in aquariums 😕

[@FreshwaterIchthyology]

I agree, I hope in the future to see more fish growing to their natural size.