Care
The Medusa Plec is known from the Rio Xingu and Rio Tocantins basins. Here this fish inhabits clear, shallow, running waters where it lives in the narrow cracks and crevices of the submerged rocks. This is an impressive Ancistrus species which is instantly recognisable from the very wide flat head, and, in older males, an extraordinary amount of tentacle growth on the head. Provide a mature aquarium with plenty of shady hiding places amongst tangles of bogwood, rocky caves, PVC pipes, bamboo tubes, and robust planting. Filtration should be efficient with areas of brisk water movement along with some quieter resting spots out of the current. There should be a decent level of oxygenation, and small frequent partial water changes will help keep nitrate to a minimum. The Medusa Plec is generally peaceful, but it will show some territorial aggression towards its own kind if not given enough space. In most instances though, they can be maintained in small groups and with other Loricariids as long as there is adequate room and enough hiding places to go round. Tankmates could include any small-medium sized peaceful fish that enjoy warm, fast-flowing water.
Feeding
Omnivorous but with a preference for meaty foods. Bloodworm, vitamin-enriched brineshrimp, Mysis shrimp, and chopped prawns should all be enthusiastically consumed, and these can be supplemented with algae wafers and sinking catfish tablets/pellets along with vegetable matter such as courgette, cucumber, lettuce, squash, spinach, sweet potato etc.
Breeding
The Medusa Plec has been bred in the home aquarium. This species is a secretive cave spawner, and a clutch of large gold coloured eggs will be laid/fertilised in a small cave or crevice. The male tirelessly guards the eggs and keeps a good amount of oxygen flowing over them by continually fanning with his pectoral fins. After approximately 4-7 days, the eggs will hatch into wrigglers and they will attach themselves to the décor and tank walls. The yolk sacs are absorbed over a 10 day period, after which time they will become free-swimming. Given the right conditions, it is not unknown for compatible pairs to spawn every 6 weeks.
