AquaticRepublic.com - Pseudacanthicus sp. (L452) (Loricariidae) All Fishes

Sub adult
Young male
Adult male
Adult
Dorsal view
Close-up of mouth
Adolescent
Breeding male
Two day old fry
Three day old fry
Four day old fry
Five day old fry
Six day old fry
Seven day old fry
Eight day old fry
Nine day old fry
Ten day old fry
Eleven day old fry
Two week old
Juvenile at 40mm
Juvenile suffering from infection / patch
Juvenile suffering from infection / fin rot
Close-up of mouth
Dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Pseudacanthicus sp. (L452)
Common Names	L452, Mustang Cactus Pleco Mustang-kaktussugemalle (Denmark)
Pronunciation	SUE dah KAN thi cuss
Etymology	Pseud- Greek: False, Acanthicus - Greek: Spiny, Thorny. Literally "False Acanthicus" referring to this genus being similar to, yet different from, Acanthicus.
Species Information
Size	320mm or 12.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The German common name for this genus is ''Cactus Pleco''. A good name! Pseudacanthicus is a member of the Acanthicus clade. Species of the Acanthicus clade are distinguished from other Loricariidae species by the presence of (1) longitudinal rows of keels (pointed odontodes) along the body sides; (2) eight or more dorsal-fin rays (vs. six or seven in most other loricariids except Pterygoplichthys, Chaetostoma, Pogonopoma and Pseudancistrus pectegenitor); (3) seven to eight infraorbitals (vs. usually five or six); (4) five anal-fin branched rays (vs. usually four); and (5) presence of hypertrophied odontodes along the snout margin (vs. hypertrophied odontodes absent in other loricariids except Isbrueckerichthys and Pareiorhaphis, in Neoplecostominae; Panaque and Pseudancistrus and Neblinichthys, in Ancistrini; and most dimorphic males of Loricariinae). Within the Acanthicus group, Pseudacanthicus is distinguished by the presence of two small plates in the posterior area of the compound pterotic (vs. one median plate or plate absent), and by the presence of narrow premaxillae with a small number of elongate and curved teeth (except from Leporacanthicus). The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although very similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. Although imported for several years beforehand, this species was given an L-number in 2010.
Sexing	Mature males have considerably more odontodal growth on most fins rays but the pectorals are most adorned. Females fill out quite considerably in relation to the slender males.
General Remarks	The pictured specimen was imported from Peru although similar species are imported from the Rio Orinoco, Venezuela and the Rio Tocantins, Brazil. With respect to coloration, this species closely resembles L097 and Pseudacanthicus sp. "Alenquer" from Brazil. They even share the same changes in coloration along maturation, but are easily told apart due to their differing body shape.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Ucayali drainage in Peru, Rio Tapiche close to Requena. Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali, Lower Ucayali, Tapiche (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
pH	6.5 - 7.5
Temperature	25.0-28.0°C or 77-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Carnivore although not a predator, prawns and chopped mussel appear favourites and promote favourable growth. Some vegetable should also be provided and thus balances diet. User data.
Furniture	A potentially large pleco that will need robust decoration in the tank. Fairly reclusive and will need cover to hide in. Care must be taken that no other inhabitants of the aquarium attempt to dispute ownership of this cover. This fish will fight for the territory and, with its array of spines and hooks, can cause serious damage.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful but territorial from a young age. Some large specimens are aggressively territorial and may cause problems if housed with other large nocturnal fish.
Suggested Tankmates	The temptation with large tough Loricariids is to keep them with large, tough other fish such as Oscars or other brutish characters. This actually works quite well with most omnivorous or mainly vegetarian plecos. Pseudacanthicus however are big messy carnivores, but, like all large plecos, produce vast amounts of waste and as such would require monumental filtration to house alongside non-catfish ''equals''. It is better to think of these catfish as the centerpiece fish and stock their aquarium with medium sized (preferably omnivorous) fish.
Breeding	Unknown although almost certainly a cave / pipe spawner.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 4 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Look up P. sp. (L452) on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up P. sp. (L452) on Fishbase
	Look up P. sp. (L452) on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. sp. (L452) on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.40.868
Last Update	2022 Jan 22 10:34 (species record created: 2002 May 19 00:00)