My First Plec.

[Aqua Andy]

Hi everyone,

This is a picture of my fist Plec, which I believe (or more acurately what I was sold) is a Bristlenose. It is an inch and a half long including tail.

Does anyone know exactly which strain it is? The LFS only advised it was an Ancistrus. I've had a quick look on Planet Catfish, and I'll spend some more time researching later when I have more time. It has a white edge to the end of it's tail fin, which you can't really see in the photo.

It (I don't like to refer to it as it but I have no idea what sex it is, and I believe I will have to wait until it is about 2" 1/2' inches long and starts to develop bristles or not, to sex it) has already become my favourite fish, and I've only had it two days. It has allot of character


Andy

 

[Heather.]

I have no knowledge about plecs.. But I would like to say that he/she is a little cutie.. x

 

[Steviehlfx]

your tank looks too clean for a pleco

 

[matthi22004]

it's an ancistrus sp3
you got a very nice one

 

[jim566]

Ancistrus sp. (3) altho most LFS tend to just label as ancistrus. Great little characters and will often be found in strange positions

 

[jayjay]

your tank looks too clean for a pleco

Explain this statement? As in the tank is too clean in general or the plec will have nothing (algae etc.) to eat? If the second, which I think you mean(?) then, the plec is most likely being fed food so doesn't need algae etc.

Though there could be another meaning to what you said, in that you might mean that plec's make a lot of mess and the tank doesn't look that dirty.

 

[Aqua Andy]

your tank looks too clean for a pleco

Hi,My tank is clean, but it has eaten frozen bloodworm, brineshrimp and daphnia so far. It especially enjoys cucumber, which is always available, it's spent a good few hours feeding on it today. I've got algae wafers and catfish pellets to feed it when I feed the tank dried food.Andy

it's an ancistrus sp3 you got a very nice one

Thanks for the ID Matt. I'll check Planet Catfish out when I have more time.Andy

 

[Aqua Andy]

Ancistrus sp. (3) altho most LFS tend to just label as ancistrus. Great little characters and will often be found in strange positions

Like in my filter canister!Juve Bristlenose in Juwel filter.Andy

your tank looks too clean for a pleco

Explain this statement? As in the tank is too clean in general or the plec will have nothing (algae etc.) to eat? If the second, which I think you mean(?) then, the plec is most likely being fed food so doesn't need algae etc.Though there could be another meaning to what you said, in that you might mean that plec's make a lot of mess and the tank doesn't look that dirty.

Hi JayJay,I assumed he meant clean tank - lack off algae for food.Andy

 

[Steviehlfx]

Aqua Andy is right. I hear a lot from people that when they add a pleco, snail, corydoras to their tank they end up dying soon after. (not that I think Aqua Andy does not know this) Just wanted to say that it looks like a newly set up tank.

 

[Aqua Andy]

3 more pics.

 

[stang1]

Beautiful Bristlenose you have there Andy!
When it comes to feeding, BN's don't need a meaty diet. They should only be fed bloodworm once every couple of weeks or so as it is high in proten and could cause problems for him/her.
Feed with wafers, cucumber, courgette, sweet potato etc.

Bristlenose Catfish

 

[Aqua Andy]

Beautiful Bristlenose you have there Andy!
When it comes to feeding, BN's don't need a meaty diet. They should only be fed bloodworm once every couple of weeks or so as it is high in proten and could cause problems for him/her.
Feed with wafers, cucumber, courgette, sweet potato etc.

Bristlenose Catfish

Hi Stang,

I was feeding the frozen food for the other fish in the tank, it just happened to eat some. The food I'm adding specifically for him is cucumber and algae wafers.

Should I limit the amount of frozen food I add to the tank for the other fish, because the Bristlenose might eat too much?

At the moment I'm feeding the tank frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, and daphnia once a week. The quandary is that the other fish seem to really enjoy the frozen food, and I think a balanced diet for them will make them happier, and improve the vividness of their colour.


Andy

 

[LakeyGal]

If that wood in the pic is real bogwood I think you should be just fine, perhaps try him with courgette though, they like it as much as cucumber but theres more nutrition in it.

 

[Aqua Andy]

If that wood in the pic is real bogwood I think you should be just fine, perhaps try him with courgette though, they like it as much as cucumber but theres more nutrition in it.

Hi LakeyGal,

The wood is driftwood that I bought from my LFS. Is this suitable? If not I can get some bogwood from them. What is the difference between bog and driftwood?


Andy

 

[LakeyGal]

If that wood in the pic is real bogwood I think you should be just fine, perhaps try him with courgette though, they like it as much as cucumber but theres more nutrition in it.

Hi LakeyGal,

The wood is driftwood that I bought from my LFS. Is this suitable? If not I can get some bogwood from them. What is the difference between bog and driftwood?


Andy

Bogwood in real terms is bits of trees that have been dug out of peat type bogs that they could have been in for years, they leach tannins into the water (not harmful) and some people use it to lower their water hardness. BNs like to rasp on the bogwood to get valuable lignin & fibre and stuff in their diet. Driftwood can be anything washed up on shore including tree branches, bits of boats etc. I think it depends whether you LFS advertised it right though as that looks pretty bogwoody to me.