Lasiancistrus saetiger – L322
Lasiancistrus saetiger was described by Armbruster in 2005. Before the official description, they had the temporary designation L322.
Origin
South America: Rio Guamá (Ourém), Pará, Brazil.
Maximum Size:
Up to 15cm.
The Aquarium
This beautifully drawn, small-bodied catfish prefers a dimly lit aquarium with plenty of hiding places, in the form of plants, drift wood, rocks and/or artificial caves. To keep several specimens of this species, or to keep this species together with other bottom dwellers, an aquarium of 100x50cm. is required, as the species can be quite territorial. In the absence of suitable hiding places, the L322 can behave rather aggressively towards other bottom dwellers. If it is the only bottom dweller in the aquarium, an aquarium of 80x35cm. is sufficient. Young specimens can easily be kept temporarily in smaller aquariums, as long as there are sufficient hiding places.
This species does best in soft, slightly acidic to neutral water, rich in oxygen and with a lot of current, but can also adapt to conditions less similar to those found in the wild. A strong filter is important, as this fish produces a lot of waste given its protein-rich diet.
Temperature: 22-30°C
pH: 5.5-7.5
Diet
This species is an omnivore with a preference for green foods: suitable types of food include vegetables (cucumber, zucchini, eggplant, peas, lettuce, blanched spinach), algae and spirulina tablets, mosquito larvae, blood worms, tubifex and krill.
In addition, this species likes to rasp at the organic layer that forms on sunken surfaces (driftwood, rocks, leaves, aquarium panes), also sporadically eats soft wood, and, like most armor catfish, is not afraid to clean up food scraps left behind by other fish.
Character
Like many Armored Catfish, the L322 leaves free-swimming fish alone, but competitors can expect less friendly treatment, especially in aquariums that are too small and during feeding times. When keeping this species with other bottom dwellers (conspecifics or otherwise), it is essential to create enough hiding places so that each fish can claim a small territory.
Comments
This species was long offered under the name Lasiancistrus scolymus. After it turned out that this was not the same species, this Harness catfish was assigned its own L-Number, only to be finally described scientifically in 2005 by catfish researcher J.W. Armbruster: since then this species has been known as Lasiancistrus saetiger.
Author
Jonas Hansel – Piranha-info.com (original website no longer online)
Copyright images
Jonas Hansel – Piranha-info.com (original website no longer online)
