Bushy Questions!

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 08 Sep 2006, 20:00

So ive been looking for a gold albino bushynose forever for my 30gall and i finally found one. but this one is almost 6 or 7 inches... and is being sold for 50bucks! i thought they didnt grow more than 5inches... the price isnt too bad though, with tax on shipping buying one online would have costed me 60 plus.

its just too big for my tank... only if it was half that size.

they are so pretty

-zach

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 08 Sep 2006, 20:17

That is a very big bushynose. I have seen one male long fin albino bushynose that had a TL of 6-7 inches but the long fins added a lot of the length, still a well cared for bushy Nose can get fairly large but most don't. This could be an artifact of hybridization that may have occurred allowing for some to get larger than usual. It is a phenomenon known as "hybrid vigor" The price is too high as it is easy and much cheaper to grown your own from a juvenile for $10.

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 08 Sep 2006, 20:24

id love to fine a small one, actully thats what i want. i want one thats about 2 inches or so. i cant find any around here. all fish stores here in missouri are all pet supermarkets that
only have commons or really overpriced small stores... i am so frustrated... thanks for your quick reply.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 08 Sep 2006, 22:36

You might want to checkout the new for sale feature recently added to pc.com. I know the breeder and can vouch on the quality and value. It is still warm enough to safely ship by mail and they can usually tolerate 2-3 days in the bags. I bought some reg. and long fin BN from her andd they are in much better shape than those that come through the standard distribution network.

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 09 Sep 2006, 02:30

but, i just wanted one, because i was under the idea tha if i had two, they would fight.

im really bad with internet things, do you know how much it would run just to get one (hopfully male) shipped?

because i saw one for sale for 25 bucks but the shipping was 35 dollers... thats so expensive.

thanks for you help. sorry about all the questions.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 09 Sep 2006, 03:35

Bushy Nose males fight but it is mostly harmless posturing. A rough rule of thumb could be 1/5 gallons to 1/10gallons.
One of the nice things about a small group is that a pair will form. They will spawn in a cave provided in the community tank. You can usually take the cave out at about the time they are ready to leave on their own and get some size on them by using a breeding net to keep them from being harmed by other fsh and then spread them among your other tanks or give to your friends. That is an option. Sometimes a few will survive without any special attention.
They are more interesting in small groups, IMO.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 Sep 2006, 07:15

Common bristlenose will grow to around 5 inches STANDARD LENGTH, which means "without the tail-fin". At that size, the tail-fin will probably be close to two inches, so a TOTAL LENGTH of 7 inches is at the upper range of known size. If you do decide to get this fish, maybe you can lay it straight along a ruler/tape-measure and if it is 5 inches between the tip of the nose and just before the tail becomes a fin (i.e. the last "meaty" bit of the fish), then take a photo of it, post it here, and I promise to adjust the max size of the fish to whatever size your photo shows... [Unless we identify your fish as something other than an , but I doubt it is anything else].

I agree with Larry about keeping multiples, they are fine in a group. You may not want to keep more than one male in a tank if you actually want them to breed, since the males may be more inclined to squabble with each other than to mate with a female [they like to KNOW that they are the only male when they mate, so having another male around is a "bad" thing, in their natural environment].

--
Mats

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 09 Sep 2006, 21:33

thanks!

when looking to spawn them how many should i start out with?
and what sex? i am plannig to breed them in a 30 gallon with driftwood and some java ferns i just bought.i work in a fish store and i am able to get them shipped in so i need to know within a couple days how many would be good. one male and one female ok? would my two dojo loaches be a problem??

thanks for your help, i really enjoy this site.
-zach

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 09 Sep 2006, 22:40

I'd recommend 1 male and 2 females and definitely no loaches. For that matter no other fish but a few Corys,pencils or hatchet fish would be OK if you really want some other fish.I suggest a 15 gallon tank for this set up.

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 10 Sep 2006, 01:51

maaan i dont wanna get rid of my loaches...

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 10 Sep 2006, 03:12

You can always breed your bushies when you want. Maybe by the time they reach breeding size you may have another tank.
Loaches are one of the few fishes that might be able to foil the male's ability to defend the eggs or fry.

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 10 Sep 2006, 05:38

what if i have the male spawn in something small and only one end open, like a small pot? ...i really wish i could breed my soon to be bushys and keep my loaches... they are so cool

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 10 Sep 2006, 06:37

Patience, grasshopper. Take some time to figure out your priorities. The plants you asked about are good ones to try.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 10 Sep 2006, 14:49

ZachPaul: As Larry says, if you want to breed bristlenoses, then you probably won't succeed with the loaches in there. Bristlenose males are petty good at watching the eggs and larvae, but once the fry gets released by the male, they are quite vulnerable.

The male will not spawn unless the cave has a single opening (or at least, it's the PREFERRED cave-type), and mostly likes a small opening. But if you get the large male discussed above, you still need a fairly big opening - the mala has to get in there...

If the male can prevent the loaches from eating the eggs/larvae, then you may be able to save the larvae by siphoning them out before they get eaten (preferrably just before they are released, as they are less sensitive to gettting moved at the later stages of growing).

--
Mats

ZachPaul · Post by **ZachPaul** » 10 Sep 2006, 22:34

if i did save a fue, could i rase them in a breeding net till they are bigger? i only want a fue at first... to make surei can find homes.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 12 Sep 2006, 11:06

Yes, you can certainly raise a few in a breeding net. They grow to about 1/2-3/4" (13-20mm) SL quite quickly.

Make sure you siphon out the fry-net quite often tho', as they do produce a bit of waste...

--
Mats

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