Gold Bristlenose With Red Head

[dazbud]

Hi there,
 
Had my two Bristlenose for about 8 months now. Both seem happy, although as one is growing there is a distinct redness over the top of his head. It looks like transparent skin revealing blood. He seems happy, is eating well and always active. Is this colouration normal?
 
Photo below
 
 

 

[l_l_l]

I think it's something normal as their scales are transparent, maybe he bumped his head somewhere, or got a huge sucker from his fella..
I've seen a few of them with those marks around.. 
How long has he had this for?

 

[greenmumma141]

My male bn has the same kind of coloration on his head. 
 
He sure is cute, with his tiny bristles

 

[dazbud]

Seems to have developed slowly over about two months. Its got quite dark in the last couple of weeks.

 

[greenmumma141]

Yours has a much more profound shape to it though, hmm.... idk, if he's eating well and behaving normally I would just keep an eye on it.

 

[dazbud]

I have seen them both having an occasional scuffle together, I wonder if the other one has suckered him? They are not bothered by any of the other fish though and the other BN has no pink at all on his head.

 

[greenmumma141]

 I checked and Edward has the exact same red markings on his head.

 

[dazbud]

thanks. I found a few more pics online too and a few of them do have it. strange though that not all of them do

 

[l_l_l]

from what I have seen online it offend happens when two of them are in the same tank. They can sometimes have a bout..

I'm not sure if this is it but I did not come across a forum post where someone said theirs were having trouble from it...

I've searched for albino bristlenose red head on Google.

 

[dougie]

Mine has it too, and sometimes more pronounced than at others, some weeks it's barely noticeable, at others it looks just like your pic.
He's easily 4 years old & has had it since, well as long as I can remember. As long as everything else is ok, I wouldn't worry about it.