Contradens Pleco

Geographic Origin and Biotope: Lower Orinoco River (Venezuela). Frequents fast coastal areas with bottoms covered by slippery white granite blocks, with very little vegetation cover.

Taxonomy and Morphology: Snowball Pleco (Hypancistrus contradens). The true "Snowball" with large spots. Often and historically confused with H. inspector (L201), the contradens differs by its visibly stockier and rounder body and head (Bulldog head) and much larger white polka dots.

Social Behavior: Sedentary and nocturnal. Like all Hypancistrus, it tolerates small schools of its own species if the tank offers a sufficient number of rocky cavities, otherwise males will fight with shoves and bites for the "Dens".

Coloration and Sexual Dimorphism: Brilliant pitch-black background (almost velvet), flooded with large spherical white dots (Snowballs). At reproductive age the male develops powerful brushes on pectorals and jaw, while the female remains rounder on the belly.

Aquarium Setup: Demands Tubes (Ceramic Caves). Without a crevice for each individual the species dies of stress. Use massive interwoven roots, stacked smooth rocks and circulation pumps. Plants are ignored and survive well.

Diet and Feeding: Extreme carnivore and scavenger. Unlike Ancistrus, their teeth are tiny and they cannot scrape wood. They feed mainly on protein tablets, cut earthworms, crushed shrimp, and bloodworms. They disdain vegetables.

Water Quality: Demands the classic warm waters of the basin (28°C / 82°F min) heavily oxygenated to compensate for the heat. Excellent quality: debris in the tank will quickly infect their crawling belly.

Compatibility and Tankmates: Peaceful but very shy armored fish. To be inserted together with fast mid-water fish or Discus. Do not mix it with other similar Hypancistrus (Zebra, L201, L136) otherwise they will create hybrids "dirtying" the genetic lines.

Aquarium Reproduction: Typical Cave-Spawner of medium difficulty. Once provided with "Breeding Tubes" (sunken terracotta tubes), the male attracts the female into the tube, cages her and forces her to lay large amber eggs, brooding the young for 2 weeks fanning them.

Risks and Diseases: The false myth of the "glass cleaner". Inexpert people buy it mistaking it for an algae-eater. Placed in a tank with flakes or only vegetables, it wastes away in a month consuming its fat reserves.