FishProfiles.com Message Forums

Hi

Please help I am new to this

I understand that a "Bristlenose" Plec matures to about 15cm

A "Common" Plec matures to about 40cm

But the one I brought from my LFS looks like both - I've read the "Brislenose" will not show these till they are 8cm
long!

How can I tell which I have got? If it is the common one - we he grow to the "size of the tank"? and will he try and eat my smaller fish?

Thanks

Common Plecs tend NOT to grow to the size of their tank if well taken care of... If he is a common, he may indeed try to go after your smaller fish if/when he grows large enough.

The best thing would be if you could compare between Common Pleco pics (usually Liposarcus pardalis nowadays rather than Hypostomus plecostomus) and Bristlenose pics (usually Ancistrus temmincki). The main difference between these two species is that commons tend to be light with dark spots and bristlenoses tend to be dark with light spots, though I wouldn't necessarily go by this 100%.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

i would say the best why to tell is by the bristles

Mine, granted it is a male, was showing the beginnings of bristles when I bought it. It was maybe 2-2.5 inches then.

same here i got my pleco 15 days ago and has bristles a 2 in

BN's also have a section on the side of there face (or some species do) which they puff out when thretend and bristles come out and it makes them look a lot bigger, even on the females.

Thanks for the above - you do say ..."Common Plecs tend NOT to grow to the size of their tank if well taken care of..."

What do u mean by this?

Regards

If they are in bad water conditions and a too-small tank, they might stunt. This is where the insides continue to grow but the outsides don't, resulting in a painful, drawn-out death.

I believe that even juvis will show signs of bristles. If it is a female, this might not be the case.

Try looking at various pictures of them both, and try to decide to the best of your abilities. It might help if you posted a link to a picture.

You might just have to wait it out.

---

They shade the glow of it with their mossy-misty costumes,
They wear masks of silk, porcelain, brass, and silver,
So as not to mislead with their own, ordinary faces.

As a general rule, you may not see the bristles until they are 2-3". At that size if there are no bristles (even females have small, detectable bristles), you probably have a common. Yes, these catfish will outgrow a small tank and quickly. It is not unusual for them to grow an inch a month or more under good conditions.

Thanks for everyones advice

Its looks like a Hypostomus from his markings and growth rate

Do I return him while he is still small? He is about 10 cm now after two months or wait till he is a monster and give him to a zoo?

The fish must be at least 8cm long after 8 weeks

But I do feed my fish well

It looks like it has two "gs" on his forehead - personally I do not think these are the beginnings of "Bristles" - still looks friendly and seems to be quite a character - we call him the window licker - LOL

Do these fish become agressive as they get longer??

Regards

Dave the raver

janna commons do not out grow tank and stunt as other fish do they tend to keep growing and die because of bio looad if they are in too small a tank but the will mnoyt stunt.

also if they go after small fish should i get mine out of my guppy tank with the fry if he is like 2 " or is this to small to go after them,is it just when the get alot bigger likie 10"?

How big of a tank is it in?

At present 30 x 18 x 18 - hope to mve him on to my new 48" tank when it is ready

That would be too small for a Common or Gibbiceps, I would go for a school of Ottos if you have got nothing aggressive