2. Physical description

What is a Bristlenose Plecostomus?

They are members of the Loricariidae (catfish) family.

Biologists have classified them as armored catfish. Bony, hardened plates cover their bodies, resembling an exoskeleton (imagine Robocop). While the armor plates are visible on most of their bodies, they don’t have the armoring in the belly areas.

Distinctive to the species are their round mouth and long lips. Suckermouths are characteristics of all plecos, but BP’s stand out. Why? Well, they have bristles growing out of their nose. Duh.

Size and growth

They are a fish is rather small, at least in comparison with fellow plecos of the Loricariidae family. Their standard size is between 4-6 inches.

The one I have doesn’t like to be picked up and measured, but she (no bristles) is about 4.50″ long.

They appear fatter by size than other suckermouth catfish, because of their flattened bodies.

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3. Bristlenose Plecostomus Lifespan

When kept in a clean tank with lots of water changes and good food they will live between ten and fifteen years.

Tap above to view movie of the Calico Bristlenose. Look for the video in the photos section.

Movie provided by Aquatic Heavens

Yellow Bristlenose Plecostomus

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Greenish Color Bristlenose Plecostomus

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Male Bristlenose Pleco
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Honeycomb Bristlenose Pleco
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Long Fin Lemon Plecostomus

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5. Habitat

BP’s are widespread across South America, especially found in the Amazon Basin.

They prefer fast-flowing rivers and floodplains and are found amidst heavy vegetation, driftwood, rocks, and other debris.

7. How to set up an aquarium for bristlenose / bushynose plecostomus fish

Sturdy and resistant, we know this species to be low-maintenance and an easy pick for newcomers to the aquarium hobby. However, the hobbyist shouldn’t confuse this simplicity with ease of care.

There are a few preferences Bristlenose Plecostomus fish have for their environment.

Aquarium size and characteristics:

As Bristlenose Plecos don’t grow large, large tanks are not required. One pleco would do well in a 30 gallon aquarium that is lightly stocked.

Personally, I would probably suggest a super lightly stocked 75 gallon aquarium and three plecos. The only issue I see with this set up is that with a mature male and female among the three, you’ll eventually have many dozens of pleco fry in the aquarium.

When it comes to water parameters, here is what you need to know:

Water temperature:

As tropical species, they should be kept in tanks with a stable temperature and minimal fluctuation, ideally between 73°F and 81°F (23-26°C).

pH:

This fish prefer slightly acidic water with a pH usually ranging between 6.0 and 7.5, though sometimes they can tolerate levels as low as 5.0, and as high as 7.8.

Water hardness:

As an Amazon River Basin fish, they prefer soft water.

Ammonia

Levels should always be at 0 ppm. It’s essential to keep the tank clean at all times since Bristlenose Plecos produce high levels of waste which could cause a lethal ammonia spike.

Filtration:

The previously-discussed high levels of fish waste, as well as their need for fast-flowing water, mean that you cannot keep a Bristlenose Pleco without a powerful filtration system for your tank.

Your goal should be to equip your aquarium with a system of at least 300 GpH, ideally a hanging or canister filter. Additionally, enhance the tank with appropriate air stones, water pumps, or air pumps to ensure healthy water flow.

Preferred substrates

Bristlenose Plecostomus are bottom-dwelling fish, so they enjoy interacting with the substrate in the search for food. While not particularly picky, it’s best if you enhance their enjoyment of the tank with a substrate that resembles their natural environment the most.

To achieve this, you should consider a rich substrate, like dirt or clay, topped with gravel. This choice will ensure your Pleco interacts with the bottom of the tank, while at the same time support the growth of plants.

And you will need plenty of plants.

Plants and decorations:

This catfish enjoy having a busy environment full of plants, driftwood and stone. The also like places where they can hide and find shelter like hollow driftwood or caves on behind sword plant leaves.

While it’s fine to use fake plants, it’d be much better for your tank to go for live ones. Regardless of the type, plants enhance your aquarium’s beauty and live plants oxygenize the environment to make it suitable for your plecos.

Lighting:

They are a nocturnal species, meaning it’s mostly active at night. Subsequently, they need plenty of hiding spots and shadowed spaces, as these fish naturally seek shelter from the light and rest during the day. This means they don’t require any specific lighting other than the minimum needed for your live plants.

Long fin albino pleco

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8. What fish can you safely keep with your bristlenose pleco

Despite their alien-like appearance, Bristlenose Plecos are incredibly social and peaceful fish that thrive in community tanks.

Taking their serene nature into consideration, they are an ideal match for similarly-sized peaceful fish, like Angelfish, guppies, tetras, danios and barbs. The species rarely attacks other fish, but they are known to try and eat the slime coat of other fish if not properly fed. 

However, there is one exception to their normally peaceful nature. The males of the species are often territorial and can engage in fights with other male plecos over food or the attention of females. Reducing the number of males in the aquarium solves this issue.

It’s also important to highlight the species’ nocturnal nature. Some aquarium owners believe the species is dull and inactive when in reality they are judging them on their day time behavior. Naturally, they display a more playful attitude during the night.

10.  How you can tell the difference between males and females (gender)

It’s not easy to distinguish male and female Bristlenoses while young, but they develop full sexual clear characteristics once they reach full adulthood.

Males of the species display longer bristles, and they grow all over their heads. By contrast, females develop smaller tentacles, and they can only be found around their snout. Depending on the species, males may develop tentacles near the pectoral fin, though this isn’t common on Ancistrus.

11.  How to breed bristlenose plecostomus fish

Bristlenose Plecos are one of the easiest egg laying species to breed, so odds are you won’t have to do much to ensure reproduction. Regardless, it’s essential to consider certain factors before starting your attempts.

Creating a mating pair

They’re not picky when it comes to choosing a mate, so it’s up to you to select the ideal match. You should always aim for young, healthy fish to ensure successful breeding and increase the survival odds of the offspring.

If you want to breed a particular color or appearance, you should consider genetic matches. For example, the albino characteristics are a recessive gene, so only matching two albino species can guarantee an identical progeny.

Breeding conditions and setup

Like plenty of other tropical fish, the Bristlenose Plecostomus reproduces during the rainy season of the Amazon River. Thus, in order to stimulate breeding, it’s suggested to set your aquarium’s temperature at least 7°F (4°C) degrees lower than the average. It’s best if you do 75% water changes.

Make sure your tank has plenty of secluded spots that are large enough to fit a mating pair. While purchasing caves is the optimal choice, you can always take the DIY route and include PVC pipes in your aquarium or a clay pot planter broken in half.

During mating season, males tend to be aggressive and fight amongst one another for territory with hiding spots, since they are essential for catching a female’s attention. To avoid these issues and ensure optimal mating conditions, it’s best if you keep the female-to-male ratio of 2:1.

The mating process

Males will select a hiding spot or cave to prepare for eventual spawning, cleaning the surface and making it eye-catching for the females.

Eventually, a female will pick the territory and enter to inspect it. If successful, the mating will start right away. Females will lay sticky orange eggs on top of the cave’s surface, and then males fertilize them.

Female Bristlenose Plecos leave the cave right after mating, and the males will then care for the eggs for the following five to ten days. They clean and aerate them with their fins regularly until they hatch.

Don’t worry if your female looks thinner after breeding, or if your male eats significantly less while caring for the eggs. These are the usual consequences of reproduction, and they will return to normal soon after.

Caring for the fry

If they’ve bred in a community tank, take out the fry as soon as they hatch. Fish, regardless of behavior, enjoy eating the newborns.

The eggs of this type of pleco take between five to ten days to hatch and an additional five days to swim freely.

Fry prefer to eat algae, but you can supplement with powdered spirulina or mashed peas before moving on to bigger meals.

12. Diseases

What are common diseases of the Bristlenose Plecostomus?

It turns out Plecos are as hardy as they look. The species is not known to be prone to any disease, and their sturdy health makes it very unlikely for any of them to fall sick.

That is if the tank conditions are always optimal.

Chemical imbalances in the water can cause ammonia spikes, subsequently making your fish susceptible to opportunistic bacterial infections. These can cause localized damage in some of their body parts, including their distinctive barbells. Also a lack of proper oxygenation or water flow in the tank can affect your Bristlenose’s general health. Ammonia Test Kits

Signs of potential illness or poor water conditions are reduced appetite, eating during daytime, dull coloration, and swimming upwards in the tank. Most of the time,  potential afflictions can be prevented by frequent, large water changes.

Conclusion

Peaceful, friendly, and funny-looking, Bristlenose Plecos are an original addition to liven up any aquarium. 

Community aquariums of fellow calm fish are ideal for the Bristlenose Plecostomus, not to mention they are an excellent way to keep your algae levels under control.

In general lines, they are a perfect starter fish for anyone trying to get a head start in the aquarium hobby and a staple choice for long-time experts that can appreciate their uniqueness and charm.