Bristlenose Breeding Behavior Question

[Teelie]

This is basically a repost of my post from another thread with updated information.

I think my semi-adult male might be keeping guard over a batch of eggs/fry. He doesn't quite have the bristles of a true adult but he has been holed up in a breeding cave the past few days (going on a full week now). Does the male usually stay head first when he's watching over a brood? Mine is head first in there but quite actively swishing his tail around repeatedly like he was keeping the water fresh. Not even the temptation of fresh vegetable or algae wafers has gotten him out and he usually bullies over that stuff. I recently introduced a mature female to the tank and she looks slightly skinnier than before as if she's shed some weight or possibly eggs.

Should I move the cave at all? The way it's situated is in the center of the tank facing a shelf to the right where I can't look into the cave to see what's going on. To top it off, it's view would be obstructed anyways by a piece of driftwood near the entrance. I don't see how he could be stuck as there's enough room for him to move in and out if he needs to and has done so before. If at all possible, I'd like to avoid disturbing him or the potential eggs/fry inside. If this is unusal behavior though, I'd like to find out why he's hiding in there swishing around like that.

 

[dwarfgourami]

The swishing is typical daddy behaviour; I would leave him alone as long as he is still moving. He should come otu when the 10 days are up. Mine was the perfect daddy for his first brood, swishing non-stop and refusing to feed. With the later broods, like any experienced parent, he got a bit more relaxed and would actually sneak out on quick foraging trips.

 

[Teelie]

I hope that's it. I bought a 40g breeder tank just the other day intending to replace a 29g so it might work out nicely. The potential father to be and fry are in a 55g which is bordering on overstocking. Lucky timing.

 

[Teelie]

I got paranoid he might be guarding some "dud" eggs so had to look...

I don't know how many there are but they're definitely in there and alive.

 

[smithrc]

I see wigglers

 

[Teelie]

Wiggle they did which is why I was quick to take the picture and set them back as gently as possible.

 

[Teelie]

I did another check and see around 8-10 of them. I was starting to worry they weren't developing very fast but they look bigger now. I can see the silvery bodies easier and they're definitely coming along. Just not fast enough for me. I'm worried the male might starve himself to death if he hasn't been sneaking out to get food or nibbling on fry.

 

[Labyrinth]

Congrats on the fry Teelie, there looking great
Good Luck with them B)

Lab

 

[dwarfgourami]

I'm worried the male might starve himself to death if he hasn't been sneaking out to get food or nibbling on fry.

He won't starve to death in a couple of weeks. Just make sure there is enough food for everyone when he does emerge.

 

[Teelie]

I feed them every few days so he's had/will have plenty of food whenever he decides to leave. I've left them unfed while on vacation for as long as 4-5 days but I don't like to push my limits. Though in this case, I suppose the BN is the one pushing his own limits.

 

[Teelie]

He left the cave today, no sign of fry so either he ate them or the other fish did. I'll be moving him and the female to another tank next week. I've got a 40 breeder I'm upgrading a 29g to and it has all peaceful fish in it so they should do better off there.

 

[littleme1969]

He left the cave today, no sign of fry so either he ate them or the other fish did. I'll be moving him and the female to another tank next week. I've got a 40 breeder I'm upgrading a 29g to and it has all peaceful fish in it so they should do better off there.

Daddy plec will usuall leave when all his babies have gone. Especially on his first batch. As mentioned above they do tend to get more relaxed with each batch. You may see the odd baby as they tend to be good at hiding, but chances are most will get eaten if you have larger fish. Moving them into another tank would be a good idea if you want to breed and keep babies alive. But be aware they are really slow growers.