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bristlenose's bristles
Posted: 31 Aug 2003, 15:20
by degrassi
I was wondering when bristlenose plecos start getting their bristles? I bought 3 albino BN plecos in hopes of getting a pair.Right now 2 are about 1 1/2" and one is 1"(the runt of the pack).
I'm wondering how much longer it will take before I can see bristles?
Posted: 31 Aug 2003, 16:05
by Shane
Small tentacles should start appearing in males at around two inches total length. Some spp. only have tentacles during their breeding season, so their development will be dependent on factors other than size. When I first collected Ancistrus sp. "Rio Chirgua" in Venezuela I thought they were some sort of Parancistrus as even the largest adults sported no tentacle growth. Six months later in warmer water with a good diet, the males grew tentacles and eventually spawned with the females. This would seem to support the idea that the tentacles serve to mimic fry and attract females. Many loricariids seem to have developed this strategy and I believe it is why we see males of other loricariid spp. fanning non-existant eggs.
-Shane
Posted: 02 Sep 2003, 20:08
by degrassi
Thank you, I don't know what species they are as they were just sold as albino bristlenoses. 2 of them are growing quite fast and the 3rd one is the runt of the group and looks like he hasn't grown at all since i got them.
Hopefully i will be able to sex them soon as i want to tranfer them to different tanks.