Bushynose pleco

The bushynose pleco is a small suckermouth catfish in the family Loricariidae, native to the Amazon basin in South America. It has an armored, flattened body, typically dark with fine white or bluish spotting, and mature males develop the branching snout tentacles that give the group its name. It is a peaceful, nocturnal algae grazer that rasps biofilm and aufwuchs from surfaces and driftwood. It tolerates community tank mates well but males may defend a favored cave. It needs driftwood to graze on for fiber, a diet supplemented with vegetables and algae-based foods, and clean, oxygen-rich water. It is generally hardy and modestly sized, making it a good community catfish. Breeding occurs in caves where the male tends and fans the clutch until the fry become free-swimming.