L177 - Baryancistrus xanthellus - 6-8cm

The Baryancistrus sp.  L 177 is partly assigned to the species Baryancistrus xanthellus. The Yellow Fringed Antenna Catfish, Golden Nugget or Iriri Orange Fringed Cat fish (also known as LDA 59 or L 18) is a really great, very nicely patterned antenna catfish. The loricariid catfish from the Rio Iriri in Brazil / South America grows in the aquarium to about 20 cm long, in nature it easily reaches 30 cm body length. In nature it lives in strongly flowing water, near waterfalls and even in rapids.

The yellow fringed catfish can be socialized very well with shrimps. It also keeps well with peaceful fish, as long as the requirements of all aquarium inhabitants match. As a territorial and quite territorial antennae catfish, the L 177 can be kept well alone. In a small group the Golden Nugget can only be kept if the aquarium is large enough (at least 150 cm) and has many hiding places as well as a good structure by roots and stones. The Yellow Fringed Antenna Catfish also needs caves as hiding places.

Baryancistrus xanthellus L 177 is a strong herbivore. If you always give proper vegetables, it can partly be stopped from eating plants, but this is not a guarantee for a green aquarium. Especially Echinodorus are eaten very gladly. The Golden Nugget also rasps off algae coverings, and the sucking catfish likes to take care of leftovers of fish food. Baryancistrus sp. L 177 is not a fussy eater, the Sucker Catfish likes to eat vegetables, fresh and dried greens, foliage and animal foods such as frozen foods. Of course, special food for catfish (chips, cookies, wafers, tabs or pellets) is also suitable for feeding Baryancistrus xanthellus L 177.

The Yellow Fringed Antenna Catfish or Golden Nugget L 177 is not particularly picky about water quality after acclimation to the aquarium, it tolerates soft to medium hard water. However, the nitrate value should be kept below 20 mg/l. The temperature of the aquarium water must be between 28 and 32 °C.

The males of the Yellow Fringed Antenna Catfish can be distinguished relatively well from the females with a little skill: They have stronger odontodes on the first ray of the pectoral fin, and their head is slightly broader than that of the females.

Breeding in the aquarium is somewhat more difficult and only occasionally successful. The female lays her clutch in a burrow where the male fertilizes them and then performs brood care until the young Golden Nuggets hatch. The young grow quite quickly according to breeding reports on the web.

Our plant recommendation: Use for planting NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planaria and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.