Bristlenose Not Eating

[Tooombsy]

Hi guys
Been a while since I was last here.
I have two bristlenose plecos in my tank, both are always quick to eat when food is dropped in (especially green peas)
Yesterday one of them never came to eat, and today is the same.
They are just lay inside a hollow in the bogwood almost motionless.
I managed to drop a few peas about an inch from the hole but still no joy.
Does anybody know what could be wrong?
Thanks in advance for any help

 

[BiggTexx]

He you checked water readings lately? Are there any obvious signs of illness, such as discoloration, white spots, etc?

 

[Tooombsy]

I tested the water on Friday before doing a water change and everything was fine.
The fish itself appeared visually normal on Friday too, since yesterday morning he has been in the cave so I can only just see his head.

 

[BiggTexx]

What have you been feeding the plecos specifically?

 

[Tooombsy]

They get a varied diet of peas, cucumber, carrot, bloodworm and algae wafers

 

[RRaquariums]

So this could be way off as I'm not an expert on plecos but is it possible you have a pair that's started to breed and is now guarding there eggs/nest?

 

[BiggTexx]

So this could be way off as I'm not an expert on plecos but is it possible you have a pair that's started to breed and is now guarding there eggs/nest?

That was going to be next line of questioning RR!
 
Hopefully we can get TTA to run across this thread...

 

[betta fish]

Yes I wouldn't be surprised if that is the male in there guarding the eggs either

perfectly normal if so but they will breed pretty much constant so I hope you have homes lined up for the fry!

 

[Tooombsy]

You guys are right I shone a torch in there to check if he looked any different or sick, and he is guarding eggs!
I wasn't intending for them to breed, they barely go near each other usually.
How many fry can I expect from a first spawn if it's successful?
And how soon will they be big enough to sell or give away?

Many thanks

 

[Tooombsy]

Sorry guys, forgot to update this.
I did have babies, I counted 12 that I noticed out of the cave.
Unfortunately they didn't last very long as two days later there were none
I'm guessing my big male sailfin Molly had them for dinner, he seems to try and eat anything that moves.
I'm hoping they will spawn again for me and I'll try to move them to a growing on tank as soon as I see them free swimming.
Though this resulted in no survivors for me I've caught the breeding bug, hopefully next time I have better results
Also my birthday is coming up and I've been hinting that I want a few zebra pleco to the mrs, someone local is selling 2.5 inch adults for £100, and 1.5" for £75 off someone else.

Will a 120litre tank be big enough for 3 or 4 of these in a species only tank? I read they like good current and filtration, would a fluval 206 with spray bar be good for them? Or too much for a tank that size?

Hoping to get a few as a possible breeding project for some extra cash for when the mrs goes on maternity leave. Gonna need some extra cash coming in when her pay runs out lol

 

[Baccus]

Its a shame that this time around the fry didnt survive, but look closely in all corners of your tank because I have had many a surprise batch of fry appear in unexpected places including the HOB filter and canister filter.
If your BN's breed again, even though the male will happily guard the eggs and the fry while they stay with him, its by far easier to remove the eggs and hatch them in a secure area, rather than trying to round up free swimming BN fry. I have kept BN eggs in a suspended net near the filter return with 100% hatch rate and grow out. I also added java moss to the net once the eggs had hatched so the BN fry had instant micro foods available to them on the live moss.
Just a quick question, you mentioned having a sailfin molly in with the BN's, I hope that your not adding salts to the tank. Sailfin mollys can go into either pure salt water or pure fresh water and will tolerate salinities inbetween. But BN's wont do well with salts added to their tank.
I wish  could help you with the zebra pleco's but if they are the ones I am thinking of, all I know about them is that they are highly endangered in their natural habitat (if not now extinct because of a new hydro dam being built) and that they require a more meaty diet than common bristlenoses.

 

[Tooombsy]

I'd struggle to get to the eggs without disturbing the whole tank
The BN doesn't use the pot I put him in for a cave, he's made his own under my large piece of wood.
There is no salt in the water for the Molly and he's doing fine, he's happily chasing the females as I type with his fin up (he uses it like a net to trap them in the corner lol)
With the zebras I've done a fair bit of research, I know there is an export ban and that they are quite rare and expensive in the hobby.
To me it's not just about breeding them for the money, it would be nice to help make the species a bit more readily available for other fish lovers.
I'd also probably be selling them cheaper than most people do, I don't want to get rich just be nice to have a bit extra to cover the running cost of my tanks lol