Bristlenose Tank

[Abbiej1711]

Last week I got 4 adult(ish) peppermint pleco bristlenose L071, they are currently in the 125litre and I have a few smaller albinos growing in a smaller tank.

Some of the albinos are growing up fast and I want them to eventualy go into the larger tank.

Is it better to introduce the bristlenose whilst they are still young, and whilst the peppermints are still settling in?
The peppermints hardly ever come out from behind the filter and today I rearranged my tank, so if I were to move a few across, it's probably best to do it now!

If I were to add them as adults, fighting may occur over caves etc
There are currently 4 breeding caves in there, plenty of wood and a handmade coconut cave.

I'm not worrying about the peppermints pushing out the albinos at feeding time as they only come out for food when the lights are off...

Any help is appreciated!

 

[kizno1]

I wouldnt add them at all from what ive heard all of the types of Ancistrus can cross breed so its not worth the risk of them crossing IMO.

 

[VaegaVic]

I wouldnt add them at all from what ive heard all of the types of Ancistrus can cross breed so its not worth the risk of them crossing IMO.

and just out of interest, is so bad with them crossing?

I don't really understand the problem with hybridisation, as long as the fish don't get into the aquatics trade, where's the problem?
They probably even wont anyway, as majority of species prefer to mate with their own species.
Not only that, a lot of ancistrus these days are hybrids already, especially when labelled Ancistrus sp, or even just bristlenose.

In response to the original question, try to introduce them now if you can. Ideally the younger they are when they first meet, the less aggression there is when they reach maturity.
It's not guaranteed mind you, but there's a lower chance of aggression from my experience.

 

[kizno1]

I wouldnt add them at all from what ive heard all of the types of Ancistrus can cross breed so its not worth the risk of them crossing IMO.

and just out of interest, is so bad with them crossing?

I don't really understand the problem with hybridisation, as long as the fish don't get into the aquatics trade, where's the problem?
They probably even wont anyway, as majority of species prefer to mate with their own species.
Not only that, a lot of ancistrus these days are hybrids already, especially when labelled Ancistrus sp, or even just bristlenose.

If they can house them all then theres no problem but there going to need a big tank because my pair have over 100 fry every 3 weeks.

 

[JenCliBee]

I wouldnt add them at all from what ive heard all of the types of Ancistrus can cross breed so its not worth the risk of them crossing IMO.

and just out of interest, is so bad with them crossing?

I don't really understand the problem with hybridisation, as long as the fish don't get into the aquatics trade, where's the problem?
They probably even wont anyway, as majority of species prefer to mate with their own species.
Not only that, a lot of ancistrus these days are hybrids already, especially when labelled Ancistrus sp, or even just bristlenose.

In response to the original question, try to introduce them now if you can. Ideally the younger they are when they first meet, the less aggression there is when they reach maturity.
It's not guaranteed mind you, but there's a lower chance of aggression from my experience.

Ill answer the question for you, cross breeding often leads to deformities and weakened fry, neither are a trait to even want to try. As kizno mentioned there is a risk of cross breeding even though they probably wouldn't but the reasons ive given alone should be a cause for concern and also make you think twice about the risks.

The reason BN's are usually labeled as sp. is they are not known when they come in to the shops, easier for them to sp them than sell as a potentially wrongly ID'ed fish.

Not sure why you think alot of ancistrus are cross bred?, there usually the same species just different colour morph which is cross bred but it's actually the same species just adapted normally through human intervention..ie.. albino, browns, calico and the man made variants like long fins. Hybridization is probably rarely done tbh from actual different species to different species.

Anyways to the OP.... Other than whats been highlighted..ie.. cross breeding, i would worry far more about adult aggression, peppermints like many other species of BN can be quite aggressive to not only the same species but to other species aswell, 183 white seemed are probably the most renowned for it, many including me have had trouble with them not only killing there own kind (male and female) but other species of BN kept in the same tank.

 

[Abbiej1711]

Hmm thanks for the replies but peppermints cant breed with common bristlenose haha!

The albinos will breed with the common browns... but thats because theye are the same type... just some are albino.
Thats like saying if an albino person had kids with a normal colour skinned person, the baby would be wrong lol

But yeah dont worry the peppermints CANT breed with ordinary bristlenose, peppermints are very hard to find and a little harder to breed.
In some countries its illegal to keep them because of how rare they are.

But thers a lot of different types, not all can breed together.

ANYWAY, ive added one smaller albino and hes doing well so far. I put the biggest young one in, guessing hes male (might be wrong) none of them have bristles yet.
When the others get to about his size ill add them too, probably one at a time.
When they are older I will most likely be rehoming a few of the adults to avoid agression, and I have grow out tanks so theres no worry about the babies having to live with the adults

Also, the longfins arent man made.

Longfins have actually been found in the wild although there are some which have been adapted that way in the tank breeding.... they arent a mutilisation they have been found.

 

[JenCliBee]

Hmm thanks for the replies but peppermints cant breed with common bristlenose haha!

The albinos will breed with the common browns... but thats because theye are the same type... just some are albino.
Thats like saying if an albino person had kids with a normal colour skinned person, the baby would be wrong lol

But yeah dont worry the peppermints CANT breed with ordinary bristlenose, peppermints are very hard to find and a little harder to breed.
In some countries its illegal to keep them because of how rare they are.

But thers a lot of different types, not all can breed together.

ANYWAY, ive added one smaller albino and hes doing well so far. I put the biggest young one in, guessing hes male (might be wrong) none of them have bristles yet.
When the others get to about his size ill add them too, probably one at a time.
When they are older I will most likely be rehoming a few of the adults to avoid agression, and I have grow out tanks so theres no worry about the babies having to live with the adults

Also, the longfins arent man made.

Longfins have actually been found in the wild although there are some which have been adapted that way in the tank breeding.... they arent a mutilisation they have been found.

I hate to burst your bubble but any ancistrus species has the potential to breed with any other ancistrus species as can hypansitrus species to hypancistrus species. They usually dont if they have there own kind in the tank but cross breeding is very possible. Not sure where you got your info they cant from but it's wrong wherever it was obtained.

Longfins that you will find are man made, genetic mutations in the wild are always possible but in general it will usually be very selective.

Have you got the documentation of this longfin bred in the wild?, be nice to read and give me something to do lol.

On the subject that some countries cant keep them becasue there rare isn't actually true, the reason some countries cant and wont allow it is due to them been very strict on risking the ecosystem if they ever got into the wild, Australia is probably one of the most strict, alot of species cant and shouldn't be obtained there becasue of there laws, the peppermints arnt rare, hard to obtain maybe but far from rare, just laws state what they can keep and what they can't

The other part is aggression while breeding, you may well think it wont be an issue but i assure you aggression while breeding and protecting there young is very very common, ive bred alot of species and so have alot of plec keepers i know and the aggression can be very brutal at times.

I may have missed it but what size tank and actually how many bristlenose (both species) will be in there?

BTW is this your comment off another forum.....

Thanks! Ive added one and hes doing fine so far... when the others grow a tiny bit more ill add those too

I post this same question on a different forum and all i got was people argueing over cross breeding bristlenose Hmm..... Last time i checked.. peppermints cant breed with the common bristlenose.

Some people! lol

I think you really need to get your priorities correct, you asked for help and help is what you were given, yes?, it was a concern that people had and if it's a concern then it should be raised so you know the full potential of adding them rather than saying yes add them and then you having big problems later on down the road.

Personally if this is your attitude when somebody tries to help then your not really worth helping.

Good luck with your fish and i truly hope everything works out for your fishes sake

 

[Abbiej1711]

I think ill stick to using the other fish forum... theres too many people on here who think they know all of the facts word for word

Thanks for the guys who actually helped though