Bristlenose losing Bristles!

[Acro]

1. Water parameters
a) Temperature range. 75F
b) pH. 7.6
e)Ammonia, Nitrate both 0
f) Water change frequency Once a month 80%

2. Tank set up
a) Size. 20 gal
b) Substrate. sand and gravel
c) Filtration. Two Zoomed 501 canister filters (79 gph each)
d) Furnishings. wood, aquarium ornament (it is hollow, but the openings are large and allow water exchange), 3 medium anubias plants
e) Other tank mates. one small goldfish
f) How long has it been set-up? About a year and a half.
g) When was the last new fish added? over six months ago (the goldfish)
h) Foods used and frequency? about 5 different veggie wafers (with plant based material listed as the first ingredient) for the BN, fed every other day. About 9 different types of food for the goldfish, fed twice a day. If the brand names are important I can post them.

3. Symptoms / Problem description Bristlenose pleco is losing bristles.

4. Action taken (if any) None yet

5. Medications used (if any) None


I have a single male albino bristlenose pleco that has been in a 20 gal tank for about a year and a half. Very slowly his bristles have started to shrink. This has taken place over several months and I am not sure exactly how many. Every now and then, the tip of a bristle will look red, like it is an open wound, however this "sore" quickly clears up. Also, I see this type of "sore" on the tips of the pectoral fins (on the hard bony part). It just looks like a tiny scrape, and it also quickly goes away. I recently realized that the bristles used to be quite long and forked, but now, they are much smaller. The small goldfish keeps clear of the pleco so I don't think that the goldfish is inflicting the wounds. The Bristlenose eats well and is active during feeding time and at night. Please help me help this fish stay bristly! (Thanks, in advance, for the help!)

[Acro]

Also, I am in the USA, FL and we have hard water (I do not have a hard water test though).

[MatsP]

Perhaps you could try doing 25% water changes each week (or 80% each week, if you fancy).

--
Mats

[krazyGeoff]

I too have experienced this

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... =5&t=25969

The fish was quite normal except for the lack of any bristles, and died last Thursday, of what I think was old age (5.5 years old) / natural circumstances.
Cheers

[Acro]

Do you think the amount of water changes would affect the bristles? PH and Ammonia/Nitrate levels stay very stable.
krazyGeoff, did your bn ever have red tips on the bristles?
I plan on moving the fish into a 55 gal tank soon and I want the bn to be healthy before the move. The tank will be very understocked with just the bn and 2 goldfish. It will be my 2nd 55 gal tank currently set up.

[plecomanpat]

Is it possible he is or is trying to squeeze into a tight space,being picked at during lights out is a possibility also. As far as amount of or frequency of water changes,it doesnt affect my BN's,it actually brings them into breeding form. I have an over 5 year old and his bristles have not altered since he grew them, but this is an individual,there are differences amongst every individual. Good luck hope all works out for the best.

[bsmith]

How old is your nitrate test kit? It's hard to imagine a tank with any Gold fish in it and a Pleco that would have a 0 reading.

I had some cories lose there barbels years ago before I knew anything about proper fish keeping that I attributed to high nitrates.

[krazyGeoff]

Do you think the amount of water changes would affect the bristles?

No I don't

krazyGeoff, did your bn ever have red tips on the bristles?

No, however I am sure that they may have been nipped at by the clown loaches

Cheers

[MatsP]

The reason I suggested more frequent water changes is that it keeps the pollution levels in the tank more even, rather than having a sudden big dip. I agree with whoever it was that said that it's suspicious that your nitrate levels are zero - that is not normal for any tank, particularly not with bristlenoses and goldfish in the tank.

Perhaps, also, you could double-check your nitrate level by taking a sample of your water to your LFS - many shops do free tests, some charge a small amount of money for testing the water.

--
Mats

[Shane]

For many Ancistrus spp tentacle growth is seasonal and dependent on the proper conditions for spawning being present. This can be water temperature and/or chemistry as well as other conditions such as having a potential mate to impress or , as in Geoff's case, simply becoming too old to mate.
If tentacle growth does not return once you get the tank's water back in good condition, they may not appear again without the introduction of a female.
Above said, I suspect it is the high waste levels that have accumulated over 18 months of once monthly water changes.
This suspicion appears supported by the fact that you have had a goldfish for 6 months and still call it "small." Any goldfish should have well and easily outgrown a 20 gallon tank in six months if the tank is in good condition. Standard growth rate for a goldfish in good conditions is about 13% per month, so if it was about 2" six months ago it should now be close to 4".
Keep up you large (80%) water changes, just carry them out once a week instead of once a month. I would recommend changing 40% every other day for about 8 days before getting on a weekly water change schedule just to get rid of the built up waste products.
-Shane