Bristlenose Hanging And Flaring

[DaveA76]

over the last few days ive noticed my biggest 4' bristlenose plec spending a lot of time upside down in a cave sometimes stuck to the roof and sometimes seems to be laying on "his" back in there (think its a male, lots of bristles), then when he does turn the right way up keeps coming halfway out and flaring the spiney things on his cheeks, is this a sign that he is ready for an adult female to give in to his charms ? if it is ive just got to wait for the other 4 to grow (1 x 3' and 3 x 2') and hpe 1 is a ladie but the 3' looks like a male at the mo

 

[Baccus]

If you have a female in the tank, I bet you already have some eggs/ fry that the male is guarding, my two males (in seperate tanks) almost always have some eggs or young that they are taking care of. I have heard that some females can get a few little bristles but no where near as many or as long as the males.