Bristlenose Plec

[lilacamy931]

Howdy All!
I am currently replanning, scaping tank (160 litre) and me and my partner are doing this one between us, we have decided to go all male guppy with perhaps a 8 shoal of lampeyes. The main attraction is the guppies (the lamps because the local store has them and I seem to be the only one attracted to them, have a 6 shoal and quite fancy seeing what they are like in a big tank). I was personally thinking of getting something for the bottom of the tank so there is some activity but have i got all my facts right and can you guys help me correct anything?

Know they get 4-8", it is 160 litre/3ft how many looking for - 2?
I have bogwood in there already as essential, there are anubias tied to them for the moment with black cotton, should I remove these as might be bad for the BNs?
What average price should I be looking for, so far only one store has them for £7 each (reasonable?)
Do they need to go into a mature tank?
Diet will consist of algae, wafers, discs, blanched vegetables particularly zucchini and cougette, what type of ratio do you guys feed? Also who has had success with frozen peas?
They need water 70-80F so with the lamps and guppies plan on the lower end of that equation around 70-72F
Also the substrate will be dorset pea gravel and there will be mostly live plants, how does this sound?

Many thanks!

Edit: p.s. alternatively just found pitbull plecs that are generally the same but do not grow as big would these be better in a small shoal?

 

[snowflake311]

Bn plecos rarely get over 5". My female is only 3" she is a year old. 3 pitbull plecos Would be great they are active and good cleaners. I really want some but can nit find them any place.

If you want more then one pleco go with the pitbull if out want one get the bn.

But know they need other food besides just algea they eat in the tank.

 

[lilacamy931]

Hi snowflake, thanks very much! I would like more than one so prbably go with the pitbulls then..though would 2-3 bns not work?? Sorry still learning! Thanks very much!

 

[indigoj]

You could get away with 2 BN no problem but if you get a pair then they will breed and 2 males would fight - 2 females would be fine though.

 

[lilacamy931]

Thanks indigo, I will have to see if the LFS are able to tell them apart and do my own research in the meantime on how to tell them apart!

 

[skippy_49nz]

Two males won't fight much as long as there is adequate space and hiding places for them.