Bristlenose plec ??

[anner123]

Hi,
I got a little baby bristlenose today, maybe 1.5 to 2 inches long. It appears to have no bristles. Does this mean its female or do they grow in later? Just curious!
Anne

 

[Newman]

are you sure its a BN? did the pet shop just label it that way...? a pic of it would help too... i guess it could be a female, but w/o a pic we cant even tell if its a BN.

 

[Lotus]

At that size, they don't usually have bristles, or they're very small.

 

[anner123]

I got some pics but they aren't that great. His spots are really light and then he has white tips on his tail.

 

[Mixicano]

Im pretty sure that's an angelicus, prolly won't see any bristles for a few months, and won't be able to sex for at least a year n' half depending on how fast he grows... males have more prominent, thicker bristles down the middle of their noses.

 

[anner123]

I googled the angelicus and he doesn't quite look like that. Looks more like the one at the below link except the tail tips seem whiter. We'll have to see when he's a little bigger

http://www.funfishtank.com/2006/08/bristlenose-plecostomus/

 

[anner123]

Got some new pics of the little thing. Maybe its some sort of ancistrus crossbreed? I thought the white tips on the tail were just too cool. My other plec is a joselimaianus and the spots on the new one are definitely more towards white than reddish brown, but the background/main color isn't as dark as it seems on the whiteseam/starlights. Also the white is just on the tail tips instead of all along the edge.


http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/apbaby123/IMG_1516.jpg

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f317/apbaby123/IMG_1514.jpg

 

[Lotus]

I've seen quite a few bristlenoses with that same coloring on the tail. He/she does look like he/she is too small to be showing any bristles yet.

 

[ayrtoninst]

Definitely an L1 (Common BN).

I would guess, if you size is accurate, that it may be a female. At half their adult size, males should start growing their bristles.

 

[stoddern]

Very nice pleco, I have always wanted a BN. I reacentlly got an upside down cat that is so pretty and has a great personality, was thinking of still getting a BN and a cherry shrimp to help him clean the tank.