Bn Pleco

[poopsydrew]

Hey all,
Recently aquired a young BN plec. He/she is about 1.5 inches and is eating well and seems to be healthy. Anyway, I was curious as to when i could start to expect seeing bristles (assuming it is a male, although i think females might have small ones?) At what size do BN plecs start developing bristles? Thanks.

Drew

 

[stang1]

They generally acquire their bristles at about 1 1/2"-2".

 

[dylema]

I would have said more like 2" + (5-7cm). females my not get any or may get some around their lip.

Dylan

 

[Teelie]

I have a male under 1.5" with some bristles developing so it can vary depending on the fish/conditions they are in. Better conditions and a healthy fish = faster growth and maturity.

 

[dylema]

I have a male under 1.5" with some bristles developing so it can vary depending on the fish/conditions they are in. Better conditions and a healthy fish = faster growth and maturity.

So would you say they they may grow larger before they get to a mature age in a well kept tank? I think they might be quite variable. I know individuals from a spawn grow at very different rates so I guess the bristle may come out at very different sizes.

 

[Teelie]

It's up to the individual fish as well I think. Healthy fish and conditions provide them with more oppurtunity to mature quickly and faster, but individuals aren't always going to grow the same rate even under ideal circumstances. They just do better than if they weren't given as healthy an environment.

My larger male had bristles but they did not really begin to sprout and branch until his first breeding approximately two months ago where I had owned him since October. My smaller male, which I got at the same time, has already got more bristles than the bigger one did when I first got them.

 

[Jake Jackson]

My Bristlenose is in a 55 gall w/ American Cichlids.

Loads of driftwood and Hikari Algae Wafers, He is about 1.5 inches and I can see 2 or 3 brisltes clearly, and numerous starts of other bristles.