Bn Fight

[Rover fish]

can anyone please explain what 2 BN's would look like if they were fighting. Ive just been watching a pair head butting each other from the side and every now and then the larger one would chase the smaller one into the plants. My first thought was aggression. Could they harm each other? Should i say something?

 

[xingumike]

Should i say something?

Genuine lol!

Sounds like a show of dominance, how big are the bn's, how big is the tank, how many territories are there?

Full tank picture may help

 

[Rover fish]

Should i say something?

Genuine lol!

Sounds like a show of dominance, how big are the bn's, how big is the tank, how many territories are there?

Full tank picture may help

Cant get a pic as im at home now but i would say the tank was 150Ltr if not more. about 3 peices of bogwood all bunched together along the tank with most of the plants at one side. the large looked about 3 inch and the small about half that size, the larger one must be female has it had no bristles. i asked if they were like that often and he said he wasnt sure as he has only had the smaller one for about a week. i was there to look at a tank i may buy off him but maybe he should keep it for the other BN?

 

[xingumike]

At 1.5 inch it could still be a late developing male.

Could be potential solved by either rearranging the tank decor or adding more.

 

[Rover fish]

no point me saying anything then. i assumed they may harm each other. He did say he was thinking of cutting some coconut shells up for caves .

When i look at my bristlenose i can see a needle like spike coming from side of head under the eyes so i thought the side head butting could become dangerous or am i just over reacting. Its been an emotional week lol. Our lass was taking the mickey out of me other day because of how upset i got at the state of the tanks in one of the lfs.

 

[xingumike]

Assume you mean there interopercular odontodes (photo below), these are usually flat with body in Ancistrus but are used for fighting

 

[Rover fish]

yeah thats what i mean, my bn sometimes puffs hers out for a split second when swimming near food

 

[toddnbecka]

I seen BN chase each other quite often, even the big old female recently moved into the 220 chases smaller BN around at feeding time. It's unusual for them to actually do any harm, though I have seen split fins if they're too crowded.