Weird Bristlenose Behaviour

[Axyadbad]

Just have a question about my BN. I've basically not seen it for four days and its just sat in a hole in my piece of wood waggling its fins. I've tried persuading it to come out for food but nothing is working.. any ideas?
 
There is another BN in there but they've often 'argued' so doubt if they'd breed, I've looked for eggs but not seen anything.. any help would be great  
 
Cheers,
 
Axy!

 

[Alasse]

Sounds like its ready to brred to me, that is typical male behaviour.
 
Do you have pics of the 2 of them?

 

[Axyadbad]

Well one is standard and definitely a male at around 7.5cm, this is the one in the hole. The other one is a super red I think and is 6.5 cm but has no bristles..

Don't have a photo of the standard one at the moment though. What would their babies look like should they breed. I didn't think they would being different colours tbh

Cheers
Axy!

 

[TwoTankAmin]

Sounds like it is on eggs. But the way to tell the difference between advertising for a lady and caring for eggs is whether the tail is hanging out the front of a cave and waving about like a flag or if he fish tends to be deep into the cave/space and every few seconds it does a bounce and a tail wag. I refer to that move as the bump bounce boogie and it usually means there are eggs/wigglers.

 

[Axyadbad]

His tail is always just hanging out of the cave slightly, the tail appears to be moving about but purely because he's wiggling all his other fins. I've not noticed any particular bounce of the tail every few seconds though!
 
So a bit confusing sorry thanks for the reply!

 

[Alasse]

He is either fanning eggs or trying to get the female to come and visit his cave. If he is fanning eggs he will not come out to eat, or very rarely. He will make appearances if he is just trying to entice her for a stayover

 

[Axyadbad]

Well I've seen him come out literally twice to chase off an angelfish but that's it. So judging from that it could be eggs, it's been like 4 days since he's been acting like this.

Really want to have a mosey in his cave haha.

Any ideas what red/standard BN babies would look like?

 

[Alasse]

Not sure. Would depend on the parents heritage too.
 
Hope we get to see what the pairing will have, interesting

 

[Axyadbad]

I'll keep you posted if they have ended up spawning

 

[Axyadbad]

Still don't know what is going on.. then male is still in his hole most of the time. He's coming out like twice a day to have a quick munch and very occasionally will have a quick chase.
 
It's been about 7/8 days now, so should I be seeing any free swimmers yet if there are any?
 
Cheers for any responses!

 

[Alasse]

I have 2 male peppermint bristlenose that stay in the caves constantly, they come out every now and then to eat. I think the boys just love their caves and trying to entice the girls in lol
 
Its just a wait and see game for fry. One day there just the adults, suddenly another day there will be fry everywhere

 

[Axyadbad]

I'VE GOT FRY!!
 
I couldn't resist last night and put a mirror to the cave, I saw two little fry just on the cave entrance. I'm rather happy but now I have two questions..
 
Will they be breeding all the time? 
Will the other fish eat most of them, I'm quite happy to let nature take its course?
 
52 gallon tank with stocking of:
 
2 kribensis
2 angelfish
5 ottos
10 rummynose
Edit: 2 BN obviously
 
Thank you for all your help and replies so far Alasse

 

[Alasse]

How exciting....congratulations!!
 
Yep they will just keep going. The other fish will eat em if they find them, specially the angels. If you have some cover for them, (plants, decor etc) you could get some make it