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I have a peppermint bristle nose that is around 3cm long, and I've had it for over a year. It comes out from underneath its bogwood about once a month and if you go any closer to the tank than about 1.5m he runs back to his bogwood. I've never seen him eat but he's not emaciated or anything when I catch a glimse of him. Is there any way to make him less hiding?

I've seen those in the LFS, they are not a cheap fishy either. It would definately be disappointing if you couldn't at least watch him a little.

My suggestion, if you dont already, is to have lots of hiding places, driftwood, caves and plants. He may feel more secure and venture out a little more.

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Those who say they cant, Never will !!!

Sounds like a very nervious little fella. Is there any thing else in the tank that is making him that way? Have you thought of getting hin a girl friend?

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Keith

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L-183 and co. (I doubt the fish seen in aus. is actually the specified number) are shy. Nothing you can really do about it.

I have the same problem with the Albino Bristlenose. It's always hiding & when i'm close to the tank, it's impossible to see. Really annoying, but at least it keeps the Algae down.


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There are plenty of hiding spaces, there is a twisted piece of bogwood with another cave shaped piece placed on top so its like a little cave for him and there is a rock and lots of plants. I don't really have room to get him another one, and I haven't seem any more of them in the shop for a while. (He was $30 at the aquarium which is cheap as they are normally around $80 at other aquariums!)
Is there any food that would make him come out more?

P.S. he doesn't eat the algae, i have ottos for that.

I put algae pellets in my L183 tank and they love it, if I stand back from the tank after a few minutes they may come out to eat but at the first sign of movement they are gone (I have eight of them). They are all this same way unfortunately. I love to take pictures but they make it very difficult! I would say that is just the nature of this fish, unfortunately.

I feed mine algae wafers.I moved the bogwood today so I can see my peppermint bristle nose a little bit without him noticeing! It must just be how they are!

Ancistrus should not be fed the protein rich algae wafers regularly.

What are you supposed to feed them then?

Some brands (such as Wardley I think) make algae wafers that are made primarily of spirulina and are not high in protein.

The wafers made by Hikari tend to have a lot a fish and krill in them.

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I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

"What are you supposed to feed them then?"

As above, some brands of commercial herbivore fish food are superior to others in algae content. You may have to search to find products that have less protein; just read through the nutritional contents on the back of the label.

You can also feed the pleco vegetables such as zucchini, and even make your own veggie paste. There's a recipe for something similar in the newest issue of TFH.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

I use wardley algae wafers for my peppermint and normal bristle nose and I feed my normal brislte nose zuccini and lettuce too, but the peppermint brislte nose doesn't eat the vegies.

Have you tried switching your lighting over to moonlight? That helps you see nocturnal creatures more often.

Chris

Ancistrus should not be fed the protein rich algae wafers regularly.

Wouldn't you agree however that the L183 along with other blackwater species require more protein than your normal bristlenose?

Water chemistry has nothing to do with diet. Many relatively well documented blackwater species such as 150, 182, etc. are just as vegetarian in their dietary habits as your common run-of-the-mill fish. Protein is to be given only as a supplement (2-3 times a week, tops), and even then, live foods provide a far better nutritional spectrum than algae pellets. I know I managed to get eggs from my trio with only 1 day a week bloodworm administration (originally a two pair, but one died from, guess what? Bloat--let that be a warning).

I in no way was comparing water parameters to diet necessarily but was merely pointing out that they have more of a need for protein than your normal bristle nose. Two - three times per week max IMO for the blackwater species but that would be too much IMO for the normal species of bristle nose who can get their little amounts of protein from a supplemented wafer or live food sparingly. I agree that the blackwater species are just as vegetarian in diet and also agree that the live food offers more nutritional value than the pellets/wafers indeed.

In my post I was asking if you agreed that the blackwater species had more of a need for protein in general than that of the regular bristle nosewhich has been the results thus far of my researching these fish.

P.S... I got more baby queens!!!

Yes, but blackwater merely refers to the presence of excess tannic (and other simikar) acids n the water. This staining does not dictate the diets of the fish--that's what I meant.

P.S.: freakin' congratulations!