happy_pitbull
Sep 1st 2007, 08:28 PM
BRISTLENOSE CATFISH
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/6332/plecoredi9.jpg
Male Albino BN
Common name: Bristlenose Catfish, comes in albino, piebald, and veiltail forms as well as the common brown.
Scientific name: Ancistrus sp. (3)
Family: Loricariidae
Origin: South America
Adult size: 4 - 5 inches , females smaller than males
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Does well in most levels
Temperature: 70 to 80
Special Requirements: Driftwood should be provided, as it aids in digestion. Lignin is also thought to be necessary in their diet, and driftwood provides this as well. Also lots of caves and hiding spots to call their own.
Suitable Tankmates: Suitable with most other fish, and can even do well with most aggressive cichlids. (Just use caution as some cichlids will go after their eyes). The BN catfish has retractable odontodes inside their operculum, which they can use in defense. Also safe with any type of fry, as they will not harm any other fish.
Minimum Group Size: Can be kept alone, or in groups. If more than one male, make sure the tank is large enough, and has enough caves and hiding spots, so they can avoid each other more, as males will sometimes squabble over territory.
Diet: Mostly herbivores, so feed lots of vegetable matter. They are awesome algae eaters. Offer algae wafers, spirulina based foods, and fresh veggies as well. If not used to fresh veggies, they may take a few tries before they realize what is offered is food. Try such foods as cucumber, zucchini, sweet potatoes, .... these can be peeled and then anchored down. (Try sticking a clean fork or spoon through it, and that will hold it down). Leave in overnight, and remove the next day to prevent fouling the tank too much. Also frozen peas...thawed and skin removed. Lettuce can be tried as well. I have found canned green beans to be their favorite foods... rinse and split in two, then just drop in the tank. Protein based foods can be offered as well, but do so sparingly as too much may constipate them and cause digestive problems.
Sexing: Females are smaller, and plumper, and lack face bristles that run down the center of their face. Males have obvious face bristles that run down the center of their face and along the edge of their lip when fully mature. Males also have a reddish diamond shaped spot on the back of their heads.
Breeding and Reproduction: Egg layer, cave spawner. Males guards eggs and wrigglers.
Breeding: Once sexually mature, breeding takes place when the pair are happy in their home, and a appropriate cave is present. They prefer narrow, long caves, but putting multiple types of caves in the tank is your best bet. Then they can pick which one they like best. Once you know which one they prefer, they will likely use that one to spawn every time, and you can remove the others if not needed. Mine have spawned in narrow mouthed clay pots, and a long hollow log ornament.
To help induce spawning, provide lots of top quality food, and keep the water pristine. Sometimes you can tell when spawning is close if the male keeps entering a cave, and is practicing fanning his fins. Also watch for plump females, as they will look like fat tadpoles when full of eggs.
Once spawning has taken place, the male will sit on and fan the eggs until they hatch, around 4 to 5 days later depending on temperature. And then it takes another 5 to 6 days to absorb their yolk sacs. This is around the time they will start to venture out on their own, and eventually, after a few more days, none will remain in with the male.
One can then start offering them foods when they start venturing out as well, such as algae wafers, and fresh veggies. It is also a good idea to have them in a well established tank, as I have found they ignore these offered foods at first ( but I still offer them just in case), but rather munch on the tank walls and other tank surfaces, most likely eating algae and other microscopic foods.
Batch sizes can vary, most of my batches number in the 30 mark, and I breed the albino variety only, but other strains of BN may produce from 50 to 100 fry even.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/460/phto0004ot1.jpg
Male with fry
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6844/sunp0009ym7.jpg
3 month old fry
Notes: The Bristlenose catfish is an optimal choice for many tanks, as they do not get large like the common pleco does. They are also more active, and tend to venture out a lot during day light hours, while most other plecos are completely nocturnal and very shy. Also note that they will not eat any live plants in the tank either, making them safe in a planted tank.
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/6332/plecoredi9.jpg
Male Albino BN
Common name: Bristlenose Catfish, comes in albino, piebald, and veiltail forms as well as the common brown.
Scientific name: Ancistrus sp. (3)
Family: Loricariidae
Origin: South America
Adult size: 4 - 5 inches , females smaller than males
Tank Specs
Minimum Tank Size: 15 gallons
Water Parameters (PH/GH/KH): Does well in most levels
Temperature: 70 to 80
Special Requirements: Driftwood should be provided, as it aids in digestion. Lignin is also thought to be necessary in their diet, and driftwood provides this as well. Also lots of caves and hiding spots to call their own.
Suitable Tankmates: Suitable with most other fish, and can even do well with most aggressive cichlids. (Just use caution as some cichlids will go after their eyes). The BN catfish has retractable odontodes inside their operculum, which they can use in defense. Also safe with any type of fry, as they will not harm any other fish.
Minimum Group Size: Can be kept alone, or in groups. If more than one male, make sure the tank is large enough, and has enough caves and hiding spots, so they can avoid each other more, as males will sometimes squabble over territory.
Diet: Mostly herbivores, so feed lots of vegetable matter. They are awesome algae eaters. Offer algae wafers, spirulina based foods, and fresh veggies as well. If not used to fresh veggies, they may take a few tries before they realize what is offered is food. Try such foods as cucumber, zucchini, sweet potatoes, .... these can be peeled and then anchored down. (Try sticking a clean fork or spoon through it, and that will hold it down). Leave in overnight, and remove the next day to prevent fouling the tank too much. Also frozen peas...thawed and skin removed. Lettuce can be tried as well. I have found canned green beans to be their favorite foods... rinse and split in two, then just drop in the tank. Protein based foods can be offered as well, but do so sparingly as too much may constipate them and cause digestive problems.
Sexing: Females are smaller, and plumper, and lack face bristles that run down the center of their face. Males have obvious face bristles that run down the center of their face and along the edge of their lip when fully mature. Males also have a reddish diamond shaped spot on the back of their heads.
Breeding and Reproduction: Egg layer, cave spawner. Males guards eggs and wrigglers.
Breeding: Once sexually mature, breeding takes place when the pair are happy in their home, and a appropriate cave is present. They prefer narrow, long caves, but putting multiple types of caves in the tank is your best bet. Then they can pick which one they like best. Once you know which one they prefer, they will likely use that one to spawn every time, and you can remove the others if not needed. Mine have spawned in narrow mouthed clay pots, and a long hollow log ornament.
To help induce spawning, provide lots of top quality food, and keep the water pristine. Sometimes you can tell when spawning is close if the male keeps entering a cave, and is practicing fanning his fins. Also watch for plump females, as they will look like fat tadpoles when full of eggs.
Once spawning has taken place, the male will sit on and fan the eggs until they hatch, around 4 to 5 days later depending on temperature. And then it takes another 5 to 6 days to absorb their yolk sacs. This is around the time they will start to venture out on their own, and eventually, after a few more days, none will remain in with the male.
One can then start offering them foods when they start venturing out as well, such as algae wafers, and fresh veggies. It is also a good idea to have them in a well established tank, as I have found they ignore these offered foods at first ( but I still offer them just in case), but rather munch on the tank walls and other tank surfaces, most likely eating algae and other microscopic foods.
Batch sizes can vary, most of my batches number in the 30 mark, and I breed the albino variety only, but other strains of BN may produce from 50 to 100 fry even.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/460/phto0004ot1.jpg
Male with fry
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6844/sunp0009ym7.jpg
3 month old fry
Notes: The Bristlenose catfish is an optimal choice for many tanks, as they do not get large like the common pleco does. They are also more active, and tend to venture out a lot during day light hours, while most other plecos are completely nocturnal and very shy. Also note that they will not eat any live plants in the tank either, making them safe in a planted tank.