Bristlenose Help?

[pickledstrawberries]

In my (relatively) new 80L (about 20g) tank, we have had fish in tank for three months and no casualities so far, all seem to be getting along, we have 6 serpae tetras, 2 blue rams, 2 dwarf gouramis, and one bristlenose
But I'm curious about our bristlenose, his name is Euripides - when does he get bristles? He's curently about 3cm long (about 1.2inch) and has one little tiny bristle on his nose, and he's really really really crazily active - ALL DAY
He's on the filter, then the heater, the some of the ornaments, then he's under a plant, on a different plant, on the gravel, up the top of the tank, and he does this all day - he never goes into any of the hidy holes we've created for him to retreat into and feel safe, he just keeps moving and swimming
Eats like crazy too - alage sinking flakes, cucumber, pea with no skin, everything we've given him
Is this normal?
I thought they were shy?
And how long will it take him to reach full size? We bought a baby one because we wanted to see it grow up... and he's adorable, but he's so small
Um... that's all
I just want to make sure he's happy, and not moving all over the place because he's aggitated, I mean... he has places to hide if he wants to... he doesn't seem to want to...

 

[Aussie_Dog]

I've heard (over and over) that the more hiding places you give the fish, the less he'll use them. He knows they're there, so he feels safer roaming about. That goes for all fish, really.

I have two Bristlenoses myself, got 'em a couple of weeks ago, and they're about the same size as yours (haven't measured them, though). They both have two little "stubs" or "nubbins" on their face, not quite on their noses, so I don't know if those'll grow into bristles or if they're something else. But they are ACTIVE! Both of them are always on the move, sucking on the walls, on their castle, on the driftwood, on the sand, on the plants, and of course, wafer food. I see them more often than the Rubbernose Pleco (which is probably for the best: the Rubbernose freaks the heck out of me, lol). After the Loaches, I'd say the Bristlenoses are the most entertaining fish in my tank.

 

[pickledstrawberries]

I swear mine hasn't been in a hidey hole once, mine has that funny stubby thing on his nose as well, like a miniature stubby spike...
He's cute though, I just wanted to make sure he was happy...

 

[fishyfeet]

I swear mine hasn't been in a hidey hole once, mine has that funny stubby thing on his nose as well, like a miniature stubby spike...
He's cute though, I just wanted to make sure he was happy...

i breed bristlenoses, and they all start out with no bristles and males will get bristles all over their face once they get to about 3 inches, females have the odd bristle around the mouth area right on the edge and prob about six or so in total.
you may see one or two bristles growing but you keep calling them him's when how can you be sure they are male??? di

 

[davefish]

I have a baby bristlenose and "he" is very active too. I am also looking forward to finding out whether it is male or female from the bristle growth. My girlfriend is hoping female so it isn't too ugly .

I heard they grow very very slowly and they live for quite a long time. Does anybody have a reasonably accurate growth rate estimate? I'm interested because I intend to get another tank when/before my bristlenose grows very big so it would be good to know how much time I have. Thanks.

 

[pickledstrawberries]

I swear mine hasn't been in a hidey hole once, mine has that funny stubby thing on his nose as well, like a miniature stubby spike...
He's cute though, I just wanted to make sure he was happy...

i breed bristlenoses, and they all start out with no bristles and males will get bristles all over their face once they get to about 3 inches, females have the odd bristle around the mouth area right on the edge and prob about six or so in total.
you may see one or two bristles growing but you keep calling them him's when how can you be sure they are male??? di

I call him 'he' because his name is Euripides who was male, if he isn't maybe I can call him Medeia, but I don't really want him to go on a passion-fueled killing spree
How long will it take him to get to full size? He's so cute and tiny
Anyway, it sounds mean saying 'it', 'its' don't have feelings and personalities, he can be a he until we know for sure, and I'm not calling him Iphigeneia or any of the ladies from Troides, they all died...

 

[ALEXF]

Darn you all. I was in the lfs today and while looking around at different things i came across a bristlenose, and i remembered this thread from yesterday and i bought one. only about an inch long, its soooo tiny. lol

 

[pickledstrawberries]

Darn you all. I was in the lfs today and while looking around at different things i came across a bristlenose, and i remembered this thread from yesterday and i bought one. only about an inch long, its soooo tiny. lol

Yay! Go the bristlenose! I think my Euripides is so cute... He loves our new pirate ship, I put it in last night and he sucks along the rails then up the mast then back down and across the deck heheh... too cute

 

[davefish]

I call him 'he' because his name is Euripides who was male, if he isn't maybe I can call him Medeia, but I don't really want him to go on a passion-fueled killing spree
How long will it take him to get to full size? He's so cute and tiny
Anyway, it sounds mean saying 'it', 'its' don't have feelings and personalities, he can be a he until we know for sure, and I'm not calling him Iphigeneia or any of the ladies from Troides, they all died...

If it turns out to be a girl you could call it Lysistrata. Granted it's Aristophanes not Euripedes, but she is a great female character who ends a war without dying...

 

[Lizzie71]

Mine has now reached 3 inches and has no bristles. I am pretty sure 'he' is actually a girl But we're still calling 'him' Bertie...........

But yes, mine is very active too, and is often out and about in the day.

 

[Ross'i]

Mine has now reached 3 inches and has no bristles. I am pretty sure 'he' is actually a girl But we're still calling 'him' Bertie...........

But yes, mine is very active too, and is often out and about in the day.

i have a baby long fin albino BN and he or she is so active its not really interested in things like skinless peas
or courget just the algie that has built up

 

[dwarfgourami]

Have had my oldest bristlie for a couple of years now and he's always very active in daytime; his favourite place is on the front glass, left hand corner, so not exactly shy.

 

[nicnak]

bought a BN about 2 months ago and he has doubled in size.
Then yesterday i bought another one for my larger tank and he was so small that i swapped them over so the bigger one was in my bigger tank.
Well the bigger tank has sand in it and the other has gravel.
When i came down this morning i couldnt believe the amount of poop all over the bottom of my sandy tank,i knew they were sposed to be messy but the sand just really showed it up... suffice to say they are both in my gravel tank now as i cant have that mess showing up all the time on my sand ... lol

 

[waterdrop]

This thread is making me want a baby BN too. Do they really seem to eat some of the algae on leaves and ornaments?

~~waterdrop~~

 

[nicnak]

Yes waterdrop ,they are brilliant at it..... but im not sure its worth it with all the waste they produce

But they are really cute