Bristlenose Sexing

[hawkdaddy]

Hey guys, just wanting to know how old BN plecs are before they grow the bristles?
I was thinking of perhaps buying some and breeding them, and as i already have one i wanted to sex it. It is about 3", and no bristles.
Thanks for any replies!

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

Girl BN plecos never get bristles. My male BN pleco got his bristles in his first year and a half of life.

 

[hawkdaddy]

hmm, mine should be a girl then, i guess. Had it for about 6 months, was a reasonable size when i got it.
Also, what tank size would you recommend for breeding them?

 

[bristlenoseitplecoman]

At least a 20-30 gallon alone. The real thing that sets them off to breed is exact water conditions. They need soft water at about 6.5 ph to breed. Mine is at 8.2 and is astronomically hard so I can't change it. That is the only reason my fish don't breed.

 

[hawkdaddy]

Yeah, that should be do-able for me, thanks!