what type of bristle nose and sex?

fishypaw · Post by **fishypaw** » 04 Feb 2006, 06:28

hi folks.

i have had this 'guy' for about a year now. i had 2 but (sad story coming) they fought a lot so i put the second that i bought in a smaller tank. unfortunately the second fish didnt like his new tank. over night he must have crawled out a small gap at the back of my tank, lept off and landed on a newspaper. i found him the next day, dead dried out in the middle of the paper

back to the point of the post ... i am not sure what type he is and wondered if someone can help pin an ID on him for me. especialy as i'd like to get a partner and want to make sure its the same type.

also i assume it's a 'him' as he has small bristles all round his nose. i am not sure though that it's a male as he is now over a year old and the bristles are still small, no more than 2 or 3mm and doesnt look like adult males i have seen pictured here and elsewhere.

i've heard that fighting is a male thing, so this makes me think he's a male?!

the 1st pic was taken not long after i 1st got him, he was about 2-2.5 inches long. the 2nd pic is a recent one. he is now about 4-4.5 inches long.

to finish, i love this guy too. a very efficent cleaner. comes out any time of day and is king of his tank and makes it known, chases any fish that gets too close when he's eating

any help with sex and ID will be much appreciated

Kana3 · Post by **Kana3** » 04 Feb 2006, 07:29

Looks like Ancistrus. I tend to call mine Temmincki (most likely incorrect), but I understand there are far too many of similar look, to tell without taking them apart.

I'd take a punt at it being Male, but I'd like a better look across the nose. Females can have a moustache.

fishypaw · Post by **fishypaw** » 04 Feb 2006, 11:48

thanks kana3, i agree with Ancistrus and that it is hard to say which one exactly. which makes me doubtful i will ever be able to get an 'exact' partner match

i am beginning to think this might be a female. as u say and from what i've now read, females can have bristles around their mouth.

mine has bristles all around the mouth but so far doesnt have any across the top of its head or the bridge of its nose.

i dont have any pics of this yet. if i can get 1 or 2 pics of across its head, i'll add them later

Kana3 · Post by **Kana3** » 04 Feb 2006, 11:54

I had three over a 12 year period (one I had for 8 yrs), all Female. One day when I was Bristlenose-less, I bought two, and was lucky enough to get a Male and Female.

I believe in regard to not really knowing what you have, and wanting to breed, you need to buy two or more, from the same batch. I have been blessed, and currently have 30 in their 5th or 6th week.

pureplecs · Post by **pureplecs** » 04 Feb 2006, 14:33

Looks like Ancistrus sp.3 if you ask me.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... /49_13.PHP

Is it possible to get more pics? I think it might be a male, my female does not have hardly any bristles and the females do not get as big and are fatter in the belly.

P.S. very nice looking fish you have there!

laurab5 · Post by **laurab5** » 05 Feb 2006, 01:40

Males develop bristles on the nose too, not just on the rim, this is female

pureplecs · Post by **pureplecs** » 05 Feb 2006, 02:56

If there are absolutely NO bristles up the ridge of it's face then it is not a male so you would be right Laurab5. Some males are late bloomers as I have had several males grow out to be 4"+ before the top ridge bristles shot out. I was hoping to see another pic or two of the fish in question before making an absolute assumption of the sex.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 06 Feb 2006, 09:26

I'm with pureplecs on this.

I think it is - unless there's something evident that says that it ISN'T - they are the most common specie in the trade, and unless it was clearly labeled wild-caught or at unusually expensive [like more than a few pounds], it's almost certainly sp(3).

Now, I've yet to see a female with anything more than a few small bumps. I've seen many males with limited growth of bristles tho'.

There's several other ways to determine sex of Ancistrus sp(3).

1. Ridge in the face.
One obvious one is if the snout has a ridge. If you follow the link below to my Aquarium photos, you'll find a "Warrens face" photo, which clearly shows the ridge.

2. Body shape.
Another part of the puzzle is the shape of the body - females tend to be wider around the tummy area than the males - from this I would say yours is male. Males are continually narrowing from the hed back, females are a little wider around halfway between the pectoral (back of the head) and ventral fins (back of the tummy area). This is of course most evident if they are heavy with eggs - which yours isn't.

3. Slimy snout or not.
If you catch the fish and "feel" along the snout, a male is smooth and a little bit slimy, female would be a bit "rough", like fine sandpaper.

A picture like the first one of the fish now would be wonderfull, then we'd be able to see the existance/absence of ridge and bristles in the face, as well.

I would almost certainly say that yours is a male - but a front face photo would be able to confirm. Although it may not be necesssary, I think I've given enough info that you can determine for yourself if I'm right or wrong.

Good luck with the fish either way.

--
Mats

fishypaw · Post by **fishypaw** » 06 Feb 2006, 11:17

thanks for the input guys.

i am in agreement that it is probably Ancistrus sp(3).

body shape seems to be male from what MatP says. i am not keen to take him out the tank to see if his nose is smooth or not.

i am not sure about the ridge. i dont think i see one but will look closer later today when the lights are on and he is visible.

when u say ridge, can i clarify, do u mean a ridge running from the tip of the head to the 'nose' verticaly or a ridge that runs across the nose horizontaly. i am guessing u mean a vertical ridge???

(i dont have a cam just now, but if i can get a loan of one i will try to get a better one of the fish's head)

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 06 Feb 2006, 11:30

I mean a ridge that goes from the front up between towards the middle between the eyes.

I know how hard it is to take photos to "order", even when you have a camera sitting next to the tank all the time...

The fish don't always do what you need it to, when YOU want it...

If you're 90% sure that it's a male, then I suggest you get a female and see what happens.

You're a long way away from where I live, otherwise I would offer you one of mine... I have a couple of semi-adults that are surely female...

--
Mats

fishypaw · Post by **fishypaw** » 07 Feb 2006, 01:39

little update ...

i went to look at 3 local fish shops today that are close to each other to see what was availble.

i ended up buying some new corys, another otto and a plec

the plec, i believe, is another little bristle nose. the guy in the shop was 90% certain and didnt even know he had them. silly fish shop owner. he gave me it cheep and i had to buy it as it looks exactly like the one i already have, but in minature. only about 1.5 inches long. obviously i have no idea what sex it is yet but atleast, thanks to u guys, i will stand a better chance of sexing it as it grows up.

i watched carefully, after putting it in the same tank as the adult, to see what happened. thankfully the big guy seemed to accept the little one and even seemed curious to check it out. i was worried the big one would be territorial and fight, like the last 2 did, but, fingers crossed, they seem to be getting on great

i will try to get a cam at the weekend, partly to get a pic of the adults nose and also to take lots of pics of the new guy.

to end on a funny reflective note. i have always had real cats in my life, great creatures i recon. when i got into fish keeping a few yrs ago, cat fish quickly became my favourites. it amuses me sometimes to watch my bristle nose sitting on some bogwood, happily wagging his tale like the big cat he is

...3 cheers for cat fish, hip hip horaaaah! ;) lol

Kana3 · Post by **Kana3** » 07 Feb 2006, 09:28

Hi all! If I may be so bold as to plop in a couple of my Bristlenose as comparative data!

These first two are of 'Sprinkle', our Female. Sorry the first shot is in the shadows. As Mats was suggesting, you take what you get! "Children and Animals", isn't it? At the time of this photo, I hadn't seen her for a few weeks, and before I had lowered the Camera, she was gone again.

And below is 'Spot', our Male.

fishypaw · Post by **fishypaw** » 09 Feb 2006, 10:18

nice fish kana but well i have to be biased and say mine are nicer ;)

on not having seen her for a few weeks, one thing i love about my existing fish is he is not the least bit shy. he spends a lot of the day in view and when its feeding time - nothing gets in the way of him and his food, lol. the new one i got, apart from looking ultra cute, like the big one in minature, it also seems a brave little fish, neither affraid of the big one or of hanging about in the open

at the moment i think i can happily say that i have a couple of Ancistrus sp(3). as for sex i am still not sure, but no worries, i atleast have a much better idea of how to sex them thanks to every1 here

i have had a look to see if i can see a ridge on the big cat's nose but i cant see one. i think either its a 'young' male that hasnt grown the ridge yet or else its a female with a moustache, lol

when i can borrow a digital camera i will take lots more pics of both of them and post a couple of pics here.

thanks again for the help everyone.