Bristlenose Pleco

[morgan]

Hi, I wonder if someone could advise me please. I recently bought a Bristlenose Pleco. I looked up the details first and read posts on this forum to make sure I didn't buy a tankbuster. I have had the pleco 3-4 weeks now and it has grown a lot! It now measures 5 1/2 - 6 inches, it was about 3 1/2 - 4 inches when I bought it. I am worried it is going to get really big. My tank is 96litres, about 19 UK gallons, which is why I bought a BN Pleco as they are supposed to only grow to 4 1/2 - 5 inches. Obviously I can't actually measure it properly , but from head to tail it looks about 5 - 6 inches. I have also read on this forum (after I bought the fish) that there are more than one type of BN. Have I bought the wrong sort? If it helps I paid £3.95 for it and I saw others for the same price at two other LFS.

 

[Bloo]

Can you possibly post a photo ? That's a massive growth spurt in such a short time - you must be feeding him well
They do thend to average around 6" when fully grown...

 

[morgan]

Thanks for the reply. He is well fed! He is not at all shy and jostles with the other fish (Mollies and Guppies) for food.. They all never fight they are just so greedy! I also put an Algae Wafer in. I will try and get my son to help me post a picture.

 

[andywg]

It does all depend on the species of brstlenose.

Most do top out between 4.5 to 6 inches, but some carry on past the 8 or 9 inch mark (mostly L numbers IIRC).

 

[smithrc]

If its a common it'll be maxed out about now

does it look like this?

 

[morgan]

Yes, it does look like that. I hope it isn't going to grow much more. I am going to try and post a picture. I have taken a couple of pictures and I'm waiting for my son to help me get them on the forum. He has ME so I have to wait until he feels well enough.

 

[SirMinion]

There are over 70 species of bristlenose so far discovered, but there's only a handfull that are available commonly in the pet trade.

Most don't get over six inches, but there are exceptions.

If you paid only four quid for yours then it's highly unlikely that it's one of the rarely imported larger species, we have a huge bristlenose over 10 inches long called Broccoli who cost us £50!

Here's Broccoli:

 

[morgan]

Thank you for all your replies, here are some pictures of my BN Pleco.

 

[Bloo]

I still can't really say. A dorsal view woud help. But perhaps someone else can. But as SirM said, at that price it was almost certainly a common bristlenose.

SirM, Broccoli is just simply stunning (I know others might shudder, but I think so anyway.....)

 

[nitro]

To me it looks like a common or gibby.

 

[Bloo]

I had such suspicions too - that's why I asked for a better pic. But it's really quite hard to tell for sure the mo

 

[Ben]

any close ups?
really hard to say

DD

 

[morgan]

Thanks for all your replies. Those were the best pictures I'm afraid! I have quite a few plants and ornaments so it's difficult to get a clear view.Brocolli is a lovely fish. I think you are right that the price is a fairly good guide. Just don't trust LFS, they told me it didn't need bogwood. I know it does so I am going to try and get a small piece. Couldn't fit in a large piece.

 

[smithrc]

from the piccys - i then to go with the guys and girls above...

It looks the wrong shape for a bristlenose...

The plec in my sig below was our first plec - sold to us as an ancistrus (bristlenose) he's now 10" and not a bristlenose at all (oh how we learn the hard way ) Pretty sure he's a common plec and hopefully he is about done growing

What size is your tank?

you might want to take him back to the shop...

 

[morgan]

OMG, it is just as I suspected. It definitely was sold to me as a BN. My tank is 96litres, about 19UK gals. I have read another thread where someone had a BN for more than a year and it is still only 3 inches, that just about confirms my suspicions. It really has grown an amazing amount in the few weeks since I bought it! If it is a common are they aggressive to community fish? I have Mollies(lots) and Fancy Guppies. The other evening my Golden Apple Snail was feeling it's way round the tank and when it's feelers touched the pleco it backed off sharpish. At the moment the pleco is peaceful, if it starts getting nasty I will take it back to LFS, although I will miss it. P.S. It looks exactly like your picture.