Ancistrus shows all the characteristics of Loricariidae, among which is a body covered with bony plates and a ventral sucker. They are distinguished by broad nose full of bristles as mustache thick: the characteristic most commonly associated with gender are small fleshy tentacles found on the head of adult males, females can have tentacles along the snout margin, but are smaller and do not have tentacles on their heads. They are found along streams in the flood plains of the Amazon River and other rivers in South America. Compared with other plecos, generamente are shorter reach only 15 cm or less. Soft to medium hard water and acid. PH between 5.5 and 7.5. Hardness between 2 and 12. They do not tolerate salt.
They are excellent algae eaters. Do not eat plants. They adapt to lower temperatures.