Green Dragon Bristlenose Pleco Care Guide - Setup, Diet & Breeding

The Green Dragon Bristlenose Pleco is a selectively bred colour morph of the popular bristlenose catfish, Ancistrus cirrhosus. Its compact, flattened body is usually marked with an olive, greenish-brown or mottled pattern, while the suckermouth and armour-like plates give it the distinctive appearance shared by Ancistrus catfish. Individual colour and pattern intensity can vary between fish and breeding lines.

The Green Dragon Bristlenose Pleco is a selectively bred colour form of Ancistrus cirrhosus, a South American freshwater catfish associated with river systems in Brazil and neighbouring parts of the Paraná–Paraguay region. The wild species inhabits flowing and still waters with submerged wood, rocks and plenty of shelter.

A single Green Dragon Bristlenose Pleco should be kept in an aquarium of at least 80 litres, with a footprint of roughly 90 × 30 cm or larger; a bigger tank is needed for multiple adults, especially males. Use smooth sand or fine rounded gravel, along with bogwood or driftwood, rocks and sturdy plants that create shaded grazing areas and retreats. Provide caves or tubes with entrances suited to the fish, gentle-to-moderate water movement, efficient filtration and well-oxygenated water. A secure lid is advisable, and open areas should remain available for foraging.

Adults typically reach around 12–15 cm (4.7–5.9 in) in total length. Males are usually larger and more robust than females, although size varies with diet, sex and lineage.

Green Dragon Bristlenose Plecos are primarily herbivorous grazers, feeding on algae, aufwuchs and plant material in the wild. Offer sinking algae wafers or other vegetable-based foods, supplemented with blanched courgette, cucumber, spinach, green beans and shelled peas. Occasional protein-rich foods such as bloodworm or sinking catfish pellets can be included, especially for growing or breeding fish, but animal protein should not dominate their diet. Driftwood should also be available as part of a natural grazing environment and digestive support.

These peaceful bottom-dwellers are suitable for community aquariums containing similarly peaceful fish such as tetras, rasboras, danios, peaceful barbs, livebearers, gouramis and small South American cichlids. They generally ignore midwater tankmates, but males may quarrel over caves or prime territories, particularly in smaller aquariums. Avoid aggressive cichlids, fin-nipping species and very boisterous fish that may outcompete them for food.

Green Dragon Bristlenose Plecos are cave-spawning catfish that can be bred in a mature aquarium. Provide a suitably sized ceramic cave or another narrow, secure shelter, then condition the fish with a varied, nutritious diet. The male selects and cleans the cave, while the female deposits a cluster of adhesive eggs. He guards and fans them until they hatch, usually within around 5–10 days, with the young becoming free-swimming several days later. Feed fry softened vegetables and suitable algae-based foods, and maintain excellent water quality.

Mature males develop prominent branched bristles across the snout and forehead, often extending well above the mouth. Females may have a few short bristles around the edge of the snout or none at all, and they are generally shorter-bodied and less broad than males.