Mary Allen
Bristlenose Pleco (Ancistrus cirrhosus)
Common names:
Bristlenose Pleco, Bristle-nosed Catfish, Brush-nosed Catfish
Scientific name:
Ancistrus cirrhosus, Valenciennes, 1836
Synonyms
Hypostomus cirrhosus, Valenciennes 1836
Fish size
12 to 14 cm
Life expectancy
5 to 13 years
Gender differences
Males and females have tentacles on their snouts, with males having larger bristles on their heads. The males are usually larger than the females and have spikes on their fins.
Origin and distribution
South America: This species is native to Argentina and Paraguay, where it lives in the Paraná River basin.
Natural habitat
The habitat of A. cirrhosus is both slightly acidic to neutral as well as soft and clear fresh water in rivers and stagnant lakes.
Offspring
Cave breeders
All Ancistrus species are cave breeders, with the male taking care of the eggs and young fish.
The aquarium
Size of the aquarium
160 liters, edge length 100 cm
Swimming zone in the aquarium
Lower area
Social behaviour
Peaceful, Territorial; Solitary or in pairs
Care: Easy
Males can fight over territory if kept in a tank that is too small. Therefore, it is better to keep only a single or a pair of plecostomus in the pelvis. As they age, males become more aggressive.
Diet: Omnivore
Bristlenose Plecos are herbivores and feed primarily on algae. It is therefore best to feed them algae or spirulina once or twice a day. Granules and flakes are also possible, although occasional zucchini slices and blanched lettuce or spinach should be given as a dietary supplement. Be careful not to overfeed. Well-fed catfish have a more intense coloration, making it easy to see if their nutritional needs are being met.
Water values
The most important values for the water
water temperature
21 to 26°C
PH value
5.5 to 7.5
carbonate hardness
1 to 10 °dKH
total hardness
2 to 18 °dGH
Adult males can be very territorial with one another. Like all catfish, the Bristlenose Pleco spends part of its time searching the bottom for algae and other food. This species is nocturnal and prefers to feed mainly at night.
Possible aquarium partners
Peaceful fish make good aquarium partners for the Bristlenose Pleco. It can also be kept with other algae eaters such as snails or herbivorous catfish. Neon tetras, platies and guppies, for example, are suitable for a community tank with species.
Breed: Bristlenose Pleco
The Ancistrus cirrhosus is relatively easy to grow. To encourage mating and spawning, consider incorporating burrows or driftwood into its habitat. Once the males are sexually mature, they claim an area best suited for spawning.
Once the pair has found each other, a large 50% water change can stimulate spawning. In the wild, the fish mate during the rainy season, which is simulated by changing the water.
During the mating season, the male defends his territory against other males until a female has been found to mate. As soon as the female is ready to reproduce, she lays her eggs in the male’s territory.
The female lays her eggs on hard surfaces such as driftwood, cave ceilings, or PVC pipes. The male guards the breeding site for 5 to 10 days until the eggs hatch. After hatching, the juveniles consume their yolk sac for a few days and then immediately begin eating algae.
Are Bristlenose plecos easy to take care of?
They are terrific tank cleaners who will “vacuum” the substrate on a daily basis. As peaceful and sociable fish, plecos fit into community tanks nicely. The Bristlenose Pleco is not only an easy fish to care for; it’s also unique in appearance and fun to watch.
How many Bristlenose plecos should be kept together?
Two to five bristlenose plecos should be kept together. Bristlenose plecos are generally solitary fish. However, they can tolerate several other plecos, given that the tank is large enough. A bristlenose pleco can grow to be five inches long, and it requires plenty of space to live comfortably.
Do Bristlenose plecos need wood?
Yes, bristlenose plecos need wood. Placing driftwood and wood bark in the tank will greatly benefit your bristlenose plecos. In fact, failing to provide your bristlenose plecos with wood might even cause them to die prematurely.
How long does it take for a Bristlenose pleco to reach full size?
After 2 years, Bristlenose Plecos reach their full size and will stop growing. If your fish is continuing to grow, it must be younger than this.
How old is a 1 inch Bristlenose pleco?
Generally, bristlenose pleco fry tend to grow very slowly, staying under an inch in length during their first three months of life. After three months, they usually hit a growth spurt, growing an extra two or three inches until they reach six months of age.
How big is a 1 year old Bristlenose pleco?
Breeding starts while the fry are between 6 months to a year old (sometimes 1.5 years), with an average body size of 3 to 5 inches.
Will pleco outgrow tank?
Plecos are not recommended for tanks under 10 gallons. They are sure to outgrow a 10-gallon tank eventually, although it will most likely take years.
Will a Bristlenose pleco eat other fish?
Yes, a plecostomus will eat other fish. However, plecos will only eat dead or dying fish that sink to the bottom of the tank – they won’t eat other healthy fish.
At what age do Bristlenose plecos get their bristles?
Typically, they start to appear once the fish reaches maturity, which is about 6 months of age. The “bristles” are present in all Bristlenose Plecos. However, they are much more prominent in males. They’re longer and tend to grow higher up on the head.
How can you tell if a pleco is male or female?
The body shape of a pleco can help a fishkeeper determine the fish’s sex. This works best from a top view. Females generally have a more rounded body, while males are generally skinnier. When viewed from the side, females have a more rounded abdomen, which is longer in relation to the rest of the body.
How often should I feed my pleco algae wafers?
Your home aquarium will not provide enough algae to keep your pleco full. Give your pleco an algae wafer at night before you go to bed, as plecos are nocturnal and eat at nighttime.
How many babies do Bristlenose plecos have?
They need to age close to a year before able to breed regularly, and a single pair can be very prolific, having 150 -200 eggs at a time.
How often will Bristlenose lay eggs?
Bristlenose plecos are prolific breeders and will breed 7 to 8 times a year. Their breeding process is unique. It begins with the male looking for an ideal place for the female to lay eggs. Once the female lays the eggs, the male fertilizes them.
Do pleco eggs need a tumbler?
The male will care for them in the caved the pair has spawned. If the males have kicked out the eggs or you prefer to pull the eggs, set up a separate container or use an egg tumbler. The eggs will hatch after 3-10 days. To prevent mold from developing, use an egg tumbler or add an air stone.
Do Bristlenose plecos eat plants?
There is no need to worry because, while these fish love to eat algae like they’re at an all you can eat buffet, they don’t like to eat plants. However, what they will do is root around and within plants in search of food, as they are foragers and scavengers.
What vegetables can Bristlenose plecos eat?
Bristlenose plecos can also benefit from supplemental feedings of vegetables. Grocery store veggies like spinach, kale, romaine lettuce, peas, carrots and green beans are suitable pleco foods. Some of them, like zucchini and carrots, work better when blanched first.
Why does my Bristlenose pleco hide?
Hiding is a natural defensive response for many fish. It’s possible that your pleco is feeling threatened by the filter, so it’s hiding behind it to feel safer. If you can’t see your pleco at all, it may be hiding in the substrate or in the plants.
What plants do Bristlenose like?
- Java Fern.
- Wisteria.
- Java Moss.
- Amazon Sword.
- Anubias.
What do you feed Bristlenose?
Bristlenose are vegetarian to omnivorous and require vegetable matter in their diet. Sinking tablets, wafers or pellets containing Spirulina or similar are ideal. Bristlenose catfish also readily feed on vegetables such as squashed peas, cucumber, zucchini, pump- kin and lettuce.
What algae do Bristlenose eat?
While they don’t touch brown diatoms they will eat nearly all kinds of green algae, polishing rocks, driftwood, plant leaves, and aquarium glass in the process. Since they are so good at their jobs algae can reach levels too low to keep them properly fed.
How do I keep my plecos happy?
How do I know if my pleco is stressed?
Strange Swimming: When fish are stressed, they often develop odd swimming patterns. If your fish is swimming frantically without going anywhere, crashing at the bottom of his tank, rubbing himself on gravel or rocks, or locking his fins at his side, he may be experiencing significant stress.
Do plecos like sand or gravel?
The ideal substrate for plecos is fine gravel or soft sand because it will allow the pleco to filter through the substrate to find food. The tank should be densely planted, especially with broad-leafed species like Java Fern and Anubias, to ensure that the pleco can feed on algae growing on the surface of the leaves.
Do plecos like light?
They prefer a heated aquarium around 74 to 80°F (23 to 27°C), and they can live a broad pH range of 6.5 to 7.8. Since most plecos are nocturnal, they greatly appreciate any hides or cover you provide to keep them out of the light.
What do plecos do at night?
So, are plecos nocturnal? Yes, plecos are nocturnal fish. They spend most of their day resting inside caves, overhangs, deep burrows, or dark crevices of the tank. They come out at night to search for food at the tank’s bottom.
Can you feed plecos cucumber?
How do I know if my pleco is healthy?
You know your pleco is healthy if it exhibits the following signs of a healthy pleco: Healthy appetite. Nice full or rounded belly, its abdomen should never look hollow. Clear, normal eyes, not cloudy or bulging.
How do I know if my pleco is hungry?
You will know your plecos are starving if their bellies seem hollow and see-through. With that said, plecos are quite hardy and can survive 10 to 14 days without food.
Why is my pleco out during the day?
If you feed during the day and not at night it will force the Pleco to come out during the day to eat. If you feed during the day and not at night it will force the Pleco to come out during the day to eat.
Why is my pleco trying to jump out?
The most common reason why plecos jump is poor water quality, caused by a nitrite spike, ammonia spike, nitrate spike, or overstocking. Other reasons are stress, fights and tank size.
Can plecos escape?
Pleco’s are one of the few fish that can actually survive out of water for a fair length of time able to take in atmospheric oxygen. As long as she was alive when you put her in the tank and she’s not floating belly up any longer (she’ll have been floating belly up from taking in atmospheric oxygen).
Do Bristlenose pleco eat hair algae?
A Bristlenose plecostomus will spend its time as every other plecostomus: they will glue themselves on the glass, scavenge the aquarium for algae and happily hang out on driftwood.
Do Bristlenose plecos eat brown algae?
Most herbivorous and omnivorous plecos eat algae. Bristlenose and rubber lip plecos are excellent algae eaters.
Do Bristlenose catfish clean the tank?
Bristlenose catfish are great algae eaters and will graze along your aquarium and will naturally help keep algae levels to a minimum. They are a great addition to your tank, to help increase the time between cleans.
How big will a Bristlenose pleco get?
Bristlenose Plecos are the smallest variety of the Plecos fish breeds. It usually stays with a range of 3-5 inches in size. Though some may grow up to 6 inches if kept properly.
Can I keep 2 male Bristlenose plecos together?
Never keep more than one male bristlenose pleco in a tank, as they’re very territorial and won’t hesitate to fight each other. Second, you also need to provide them with enough space to avoid conflicts. Two bristlenose plecos require a 35-gallon tank or larger to live comfortably.
Can plecos hurt each other?
They often do wonderfully alongside other types of community freshwater fish. When plecos reach maturity, they simply cannot get along with fellow plecos. They can be highly territorial around each other. Therefore, it can be extremely dangerous ever to house them together.
Can Bristlenose plecos live without a heater?
Yes, bristlenose plecos need a heater in their tank. They are tropical fish, so they need warm and stable temperatures of around 74°F to 80°F (23°C to 26.5°C) to thrive. Water that’s too cold can lead to growth stunts, stress, illnesses, and even death.
Can pleco survive without driftwood?
Plecos are known to feed on driftwood in minimal amounts. Driftwood consists of nutrients that help in the digestion process of Plecos. However, where driftwood can certainly help in enhancing the health of a Pleco, it is not really a need or necessity.
What type of driftwood is best for plecos?
Bristlenose plecos need driftwood as it helps them digest the food. Driftwood also provides resting places, making them feel more comfortable. Bristlenose plecos prefer softer woods such as Malaysian driftwood, cholla wood, and grape wood.
Are Bristlenose plecos dirty?
Plecos are messy fish which produce a lot of waste (and no, they don’t eat poop). They requre heavy filtration and lots of water changes. Having a pleco is NOT a substitute for regularly cleaning your tank, doing water changes and vacuuming your substrate to remove waste.
How long can a Bristlenose pleco live out of water?
Plecos can live up to 30 hours outside water if they store enough oxygen in their bellies — this is why plecos are sometimes seen gulping air at the water’s surface.
Do Bristlenose plecos need wood?
Yes, bristlenose plecos need wood. Placing driftwood and wood bark in the tank will greatly benefit your bristlenose plecos. In fact, failing to provide your bristlenose plecos with wood might even cause them to die prematurely.
How often should I feed my Bristlenose pleco?
Feed the fish twice per day, providing enough food for them to eat within two minutes. Remove uneaten food to keep the tank clean and to prevent overfeeding.
How big are yellow bristlenose pleco fry?
It then takes up to 2 years for bristlenose pleco to reach the average maximum of 6 inches. Breeding starts while the fry are between 6 months to a year old (sometimes 1.5 years), with an average body size of 3 to 5 inches.
How to sex bristlenose pleco
This species is relatively easy to breed, and it’s quite easy, as well, to determine gender. Both males and females have fleshy tentacles around the snout, thus earning the name bristlenose, but males have large bristles on their heads. Males are usually larger, and also have spikes on their fins.
How fast do bristlenose plecos grow?
Bristlenose pleco, considered as common pleco grows up to 6 inches and it takes time to reach its full size up to 2 years. So according to that, its growth rate is 0.25 inches per month. But it grows up to 4 inches within 7-9 months.