Plec Id And Possible Issue With 1

[Peter C]

Got 2 plecs

Both described as bristle nose

1 is deffo a BN as its got bristles on its nose - problem with it, it's got a white patch, about 2-3 mm wide on its left hand side

2nd has more green spots instead of dark grey like the other plec, and it doesn't have the bristles on its nose, any idea what type this is?

Also how do you sex plecs?

 

[AdamHawk]

How long have you had them. I've had two for about a year now and both male and female have bristles, usually female is none or very small where as males grows. White patch is hard to say without seeing a picture, however both of mine go pale in areas with patches and then colour to and from. They have never been a problem and are extremely healthy. But pictures would help.

 

[ZoddyZod]

bristlenose are easy to sex when mature

plenty of obvious bristles = male
small or no bristles = female

as for the white patch, it might be a scar. Mine got one from squeezing into a small rock hole. It healed eventually.

 

[Peter C]

That's the white patch on the male?

Same1 again

And this is the one I don't even no if it's a BN

Cheers

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

It could be a heater burn on your male BN? Not sure...do you have a guard over your heater?

The second one is still a BN but is a very pretty long finned one, lucky you! *jealous* It's nose is kind broad so even though it has no bristles yet, it may be a male? Is that the younger one of the two? I remember you saying you got one later than the other

 

[Peter C]

It could be a heater burn on your male BN? Not sure...do you have a guard over your heater?

The second one is still a BN but is a very pretty long finned one, lucky you! *jealous* It's nose is kind broad so even though it has no bristles yet, it may be a male? Is that the younger one of the two? I remember you saying you got one later than the other

Yeah the smaller one is actually the older one!

Both from nu pets but about a month between them. The bigger one is the newer one.

With regard to the heater there isn't a guard on it, it's just glass with a plastic rounded bottom

 

[Alm0stAwesome]

Ah well you may have to just wait and see!! Also I think there are ways to tell with the shape of their fins but I'd have to find it myself as I'm not sure.

You may want to consider a heater guard then, I think it's a really common thing for plecs to burn themselves on them. Check ebay, if you have an interpet heater I know I've seen guards for them on ebay, they aren't expensive, it's just a plastic grill made to the shape of your heater.

 

[Peter C]

just found the big brute belly up

think the white patch might av been something bad