Albino Bristle Nose Pleco Questions...

[Katalyst]

Hi Guys,

I'm about to branch out even further with my fishkeeping and am getting a few albino bristle nose pleco's. I'm wondering if they are hard to keep or demand anything specific to keep them happy and healthy. I have driftwood in all of my tanks so I'm good with that...I am constructing a few DIY Ivy Caves for them to hide in as well as a few terracotta pots and rock formation caves.

My params are:

Ammonia 0
Nitrates 5 ish prolly less
Nitrites 0
Ph 7.6
Water hardish

Does anyone feed them anything in particular? I have algea wafers and bottom feeders pellets but I was wondering if they enjoy any specific veggie food etc.

Thanks for reading!

[Pamelajo]

I feed mine algae wafers, shrimp pellets, critter crumbs, brocolli, cuks, zucchini, lettuce. As long as you have driftwood and caves you should have no problems.

[Melody]

Sounds pretty much like what I feed BN's. Veggies, whatever the other fish are eating, homemade food, Sea Veggies, Spirulina Tablets, etc. They're not picky eaters at all, but do need their greens.

[Melody]

Here's one that figured out how to get the floating food to fall right into his mouth by nudging the pile at the surface with his nose.

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-SneakyBEGold3.jpg

[Katalyst]

I got them from Pam today and I love them...

I'd also like to say they were packed beautifully and Pam was an absolute pleasure to deal with!

[CACAdmin]

Here's one that figured out how to get the floating food to fall right into his mouth by nudging the pile at the surface with his nose.

That's priceless. :laugh: He's adorable.

[Katalyst]

Here's one that figured out how to get the floating food to fall right into his mouth by nudging the pile at the surface with his nose.


http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f227/canadiansinternetdotcom/MM-SneakyBEGold3.jpg

:swoon:How did I miss this???? What a cutie and looks like a smart/sneaky cookie too. Eating everything before anyone realizes what's going on.

[Pamelajo]

Thanks Kat, you are also a pleasure to deal with.

[Katalyst]

A few last things

Are they escape artists? Do I need to have a secure lid like I do with the snails?

Shoud I cook the veggies or do they like em raw?

[CACAdmin]

Escape artists? Not to my knowledge... all my BNs are content to remain at the bottom of the tank or on the glass (and even then rarely anywhere near the surface).

As for raw veggies, I don't know as I've never tried them on that. I always feed blanched or cooked veggies in that my Brigs which share their tank can't eat anything that hasn't been softened.

[ChrissyFishy]

I have an article about bushynose plecos that might help you

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/7130/martic10.htm

[Pamelajo]

Like Jay said not escape artists. I usually soften by blanching or freezing for the brigs, so never tried raw with them. Except lettuce.

[Katalyst]

They are munching happily on some cooked cucumber at the moment.

[_BaDgUy_]

I usually feed mine raw veggies, like zucchini and peas.

[Melody]

Mine are blanched unless they're canned. Watch for salt content in canned vegies.:wideeyed: Some soften enough if they're frozen too, like Spinnach.

[CACAdmin]

Some soften enough if they're frozen too, like Spinnach.
Or peas.:yes:

[Melody]

My frozen peas still have to stand in hot water to soften enough. You must buy mushy safeway peas or sumpin'.

[CACAdmin]

lol... how did you guess? Actually, they are soft enough because they have been under pressure I guess. I squeeze them between my thumb and forefinger when I add then to the tank(s)... small particles come off (which the fry eat) and the larger pieces sink to the bottom... and then everybody in the tank voraciously attacks them...lol... but the snails do get their share.

[peggyd3]

How much driftwood do you need for these guys? I was in a petstore (?!?!) and they told me that they only need algae discs. I am currently moving mine into a bigger tank because they have been doing a little scrapping lately , too many males I think!
I didn't realize that they liked beans and green veggies, I am glad I read this post!

[happy_pitbull]

One nice sized piece of driftwood should do. It is good to have this in the tank with them as it aids in digestion, and some say it is needed in their diet. ;)

Also, on the veggies, I only feed raw. I found anything blanched or cooked fouled the water too fast. They like the raw stuff just as much, and I have fed cucumber, and zuchinni... peeled (with a few strips of peeling left for more fiber), and sunken by sticking a clean spoon through it and putting it in the tank. I have also tried yams... they liked them so-so, and even pumpkin.. they liked that ! I found mine did not care for lettuce, and that they like canned green beans the bestest !! :) (rinsed, and then dropped in the tank after splitting them open into two halves).



Min

[CACAdmin]

One nice sized piece of driftwood should do.
I agree. I have 3 BN plecos and a clown pleco (no albinos... yet) and have one medium size hollow peice of driftwood. The clown pleco claimed it as his cave but all the others come out and gnaw on the outside of it.

[Pamelajo]

One nice sized piece of driftwood should do. It is good to have this in the tank with them as it aids in digestion, and some say it is needed in their diet. ;)


Ditto
Peggy: you can also use willow. I read somewhere they like willow chips too, but could not find any. We have an old willow stump and used some pieces of it in the tanks that did not have driftwood. Does not seem to make any dif. as far as I can tell. Nice to to see you.

Jay: What no albinos, gonna have to remedy that!

[CACAdmin]

Jay: What no albinos, gonna have to remedy that!

I'm sure it's only a matter of time... they are such cute little guys.

[Pamelajo]

I'm sure it's only a matter of time... they are such cute little guys.
The next time Mel and I do a trade I can always send along some of them for you.

[traco1]

Jay, how lucky for you you'll get a pleco package from Pam when she trades with Melody!!

[Pamelajo]

That so he does not get even with me for harassing him!:;):

[CACAdmin]

Gee thanks Pam, that's sweet of you ::D: ... and as for harassing me... you don't do that...not much :DevilGrin: ..and I'd miss it if you didn't at least make an attempt to bug me.:;)::laugh:

[Pamelajo]

Gee thanks Pam, that's sweet of you ::D: I can be sweet, you just don't get to see that side of me much!
and as for harassing me... you don't do that...not much :DevilGrin:
:WhoMe: :NoWay:
and I'd miss it if you didn't at least make an attempt to bug me.:;)::laugh: So glad your the harrassable type. :Angel:

[Melody]

Speaking of which, we're due for a trade Pam...lol.

Its the Panaque Plecos that really need wood, but the others enjoy it too. Fiber in general, which wood is, would aid in digestion because BN's require it in their diet. As long as they get their vegies they'd be fine, but they do like the driftwood so they might as well have it. ::D:

[Pamelajo]

Yep Mel, the lf albino is in his barnacle as we speak guarding eggs. So hopefully by fall, I'll will be able to send you some.

[Melody]

Well he sure took his time! lol That's great!

[Katalyst]

Yep Mel, the lf albino is in his barnacle as we speak guarding eggs. So hopefully by fall, I'll will be able to send you some.
I have to get one of those things, I'm just too cheap to spring for the $20 lol.

[Pamelajo]

Kat are you any good at pottery? I got mine from the US and had to buy a case. I was thinking about trying to make them out of expoxy. Cause I don't have access to a kiln. They do dissolve over time and with out them I think my bns will stop breeding.

[Katalyst]

I am probally the only person alive who failed pottery, my pottery teacher in College was a creepy smelly guy who liked to jump behind you on the wheel thinking he was reinacting a scene from Ghost or something and I stopped going...Unfortunately he so wasn't Patrick Swayze and sadly I'm no Demi Moore..:no: :laugh: Perhaps you can look up a local high school and perhaps strike a deal with an art teacher to have his students make them if you supply the materials? Or in the very least have access to the kilns.

[peggyd3]

Kathleen - I have a kiln, come for a visit and I will fire it for you! :yes:
Pam - Hello there, I have some photos of the bn's I got from you, they are growing big!
This one is the biggest - and the meanest!! I have two that are the largest and both have the bristles but this guy is the biggest.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/northernsnails/100_0529.jpg

I think this one is a female, it is half the size of the others. You can see how this barnacle has dissolved. It was one of the original I got from Angie about two years ago.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/northernsnails/100_0514.jpg
Can you tell if this is a female?
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/northernsnails/100_0522.jpg
I bought this pottery jug hoping it would be ok for them to breed in?
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g4/northernsnails/100_0502.jpg

As for the driftwood, I have a nice piece that I found, I boiled it to make sure it was clean and free of whatever but how do I keep it from floating??

[Pamelajo]

They look great. The one does look like a female. Weight the drift wood down with slate. Or leave it floating they don't seem to mind Males look ready to breed, that may be why they are squabbling. Once they grow the whiskers they are old enough.

[Katalyst]

Peggy's house sounds like more fun then Canada's Wonderland! lol I think if I made my own barnacle the plec's would instantly stop liking them just cause.

Those plec's are such beauties! Hopefully mine will grow just as big they're getting huge already though! Cute little buggers.

[Melody]

They look great Peggy - should be hearing the sounds of little fins soon! Thanks for posting the pic's.

[Katalyst]

As for the driftwood, I have a nice piece that I found, I boiled it to make sure it was clean and free of whatever but how do I keep it from floating?? I put mine in a rubbermaid filled with warm water with dechlorinator and weighted it down with rocks, it'll take a few days but it'll sink once it becomes water logged.