Bn Behavioral Q

[shortymet55]

I bought 2 BN's a week back. They act very very different. One is out and about all day. It moves from the glass, to filter intakes, to my driftwood. The other however, hides in a split in the wood. Sorta looks like a cave. I can see it moving around in there all day, but rarely comes out. Occasionall, but rarely. Is this normal. Could I have a male/female thing going? Thanks

 

[indigoj]

sounds like it - chances are that the one hiding is a young male - does it have bristles?

 

[shortymet55]

They both are 1.5-2 inches, but i dont see any bristle on either yet.

 

[indigoj]

I'd be hopeful then that the one hiding is a male and the other could be either, males are the ones that guard the eggs and fry when they breed so tend to choose a likely cave fairly early on after introduction to the tank.

When I last had BN's I had 2 males that started fighting so I sold one - I had to sell his cave with him as he refused to come out even when it was lifted out of water....

To help maximise their growth do regular water changes and feed a varied diet - veg, algae wafers, sinking pellets even the occasional bit of prawn and hopefully you will start to see some bristles!

To see more of 'him' try feeding very near his cave at a set time each day.