I Guess Im In The Market For A Pleco Or Something

Baccus · Dec 22, 2011

+1 In Australia you can mostly only get common plecos or Bristle noses, and even the other colour variations of BN's are hard to find and if you do usually cost the earth. And I even though though as adults they will spend most of their time in a hollow or hidey hole, they will come out for treats and are not bullies towards other fish. They would have to be one of the few fish that cares for its young but doesn't go attacking all the other tank inhabiitants when there are babies present, and for that I find them to be a special fish.

MBOU · Dec 22, 2011

Bristlenoses are fantastic!

When people arent sure, i usually describe them as "so ugly it gives them personality". Its hard not to fall in love with them, the 'spikes' are cute, they are jelly like and wave in the water current LOL.

I had a male named Barry and a female named Ann (baryancistrus!?

i know...wrong species but it amused me!)

Clown Plecs, Candy Stripe Plecs, Snowball Plecs, Peppermint Plecs and Chocolate Zebra Plecs (not the normal Zebras haha). And Golden Nuggets if you are using RO water, they tend to do worse in tapwater long term than the other species.

The L number plecs can be just as easy to look after if the water is good...

Baccus · Dec 22, 2011

When people arent sure, i usually describe them as "so ugly it gives them personality". Its hard not to fall in love with them, the 'spikes' are cute, they are jelly like and wave in the water current LOL. Quote

So true, but I find the females quite sweet without the Medusa hairstyle, just a shame when you buy them its a bit of pot luck to what sex they are, but usually by the time you can sex them they have wriggled into your heart and become a firm favourite.

MBOU · Dec 22, 2011

Depends Baccus, with plenty of practise or someone who takes care to notice, you can probably get a 80% correct sexing on a baby bristlenose thats about 1"...

I cant say how i do it, the shape of them, the size and shape of the 'stubble', how round their faces are...

Not entirely sure but the more babies there are to compare, the easier it is. If people care enough, i will sex babies to make sure they get a female if they have a smaller tank....

Though i dont think the Bristlenose eggs are effected by the hardness of the water! Local area has a pH of 8.5 (other places around here vary between 8 and 9) and we find that the babies are all male, or at least 90% males! We buy our bristlenoses locally so we generally only have males. Pain! Where i used to live the water was 7.5 and it seemed to be 50/50 male female thought still leaning heavily towards the male side.

PS- if anyone wants a decent bristlenose book to read... this one is brilliant, i lovethe way the author writes!

http

/www.amazon.co.uk/Bristlenoses-Catfish-Character-Kathy-Jinkings/dp/1852791373

thisguyek · Dec 22, 2011

so much good info! thanks all. over christmas break if i get a chance, ill take a look at the several pet shops and just see what i can find!

eaglesaquarium: thanks for the invite

pretty sure the wife would think im crazy for driving to PA to see a fish over holiday! :lol:

eaglesaquarium · Dec 23, 2011

My wife already thinks I'm nuts. I snuck away while Christmas shopping with her last night and picked up a bunch of moneywort plants. She looked at the bag in the car, and said, "Who is this?" I said moneywort. She made this ugly face and said, "MoneywartWhat does that look like?" I simply smiled and said... "I didn't have one and it looked good in the tank at the store." When we got home, she saw it was just a plant and got mad at me for not just mentioning that little tidbit right away. I thought it was more fun keeping her in the dark. If she was paying attention, she would have noticed I wasn't in a hurry to get home... dead give away it wasn't a fish. :lol:

I would check out the BNs in your local LFS, if you aren't interested in driving over. (My wife will be disappointed that we won't have extra house guests, but I think she will get over it.)

Well, I'm off to actually place the new plants into my tank.

thisguyek · Dec 24, 2011

eaglesaquarium said:
I would check out the BNs in your local LFS, if you aren't interested in driving over. (My wife will be disappointed that we won't have extra house guests, but I think she will get over it.)

I'm terribly sorry if i upset your wife :lol:

please give her my apologies!! I've got off a few days next week so i think im going to take a personal day and just drive around the city and see what i can find :good: