Bushynose Pleco Facts

[LizStreithorst]

Re: Bushynose Pleco Facts

The Bristlenose Plecostomus, some facts
The bristlenose, sometimes called the bushynose,
plecostomus is a member of the family Loricariidae. These are
the "suckermouth catfish". Bristlenose are from the genus
"Ancistrus".
The telltale sign of a bristlenose is the bristles or tentacles on
the nose of the fish. The males have the longer bristles. The
body of the fish is protected by "armour". A bony substance
covering the outer part of the fish, except for the stomach area.
Bristlenose also have a "round" mouth when compared to
other plecostomus.
The bristlenose catfish has an array of sensory organs. First is
the eye, containing a "flap" that can close as light intesity
increases. There is not another family of fish that has this. The
eye is on "top" of the head and can only look upward. This
does not aid in finding food, but the fish has other senses for
this. The bristlenose has a very small swimbladder consisting
of 2 sections connected by a small tube. There are 2 bones
very close to the swimbladder that vibrate when sounds are in
the water and this acts as an inner ear for the pleco.
The lateral line runs down tghe side of the body and very
close to their "inner ear". This also helps sense things in the
water.
The bristlenose have a very high level of "taste" as they are
covered from head to tail with "tastebuds". The mouth is even
more sensitive to taste.
The bristlenose is able to take in oxygen in two ways. First by
passing oxygen rich water over the gill plates, and secondly by
swallowing air and obsorbing the oxygen through a section in
the intestine. They can thus "gulp" air from the surface in some
of the dry season when water levels are low and oxygen
deficient, or in very muddy streams during the rainy season.
Bristlenose have a very long intestinal tract to absorb nutrients.
The covering on the bristlenose also serves as "camoflauge"
to blend the pleco into its surroundings to protect it from
predators.
Bristlenose are found in many areas of South America,
ranging in water temperatures of 70F to 90F. They are found in
a wide area, approximately 60 times the size of the United
Kingdom.
Bristlenose mainly eat algae. Spawning generally occurs
during the rainy season, when food and oxygen are plentiful.
Bristlenose also like to search for food in groups. Sometimes
the first plecos in the group stir up the mud that is covering the
algae and others follow the cleaned area to feed.
Feeding the fish can be done by using algae pellets, peas or
sliced zucchini that has been blanched or cooked in boiling
water for a couple minutes and then the shells of the peas
removed. Once a week a bit of protein can be fed either with
"catfish wafers" or some blood worms.
Spawning "triggers" are sometimes a water change with
"cooler" water. Extra aeration may also help. The male will find
a cave to take up residence, mate with the female and then he
will watch over the spawn and guard it.

Ardan

references
"Bristlenoses, Catfish with Character" by Kathy Jinkings
"Exotic Tropical Fishes" by Dr. Axelrod, Dr. Emmens, Dr.
Sculthorpe, Mr. Vordrwinkler, and Mr. Pronek, TFH Publications


The first pic is of a female bushynose pleco

Isn't this an ancient post? I'm kinda getting into BB. I was hoping to find more info on different strains but I sure did learn some stuff I didn't know. They have taste buds all over their body. Imagine having to taste everything on touching your body. Yuck!

This question is for Jeanne. I have a group of L 144's. They are like my Albinos in color but their eyes don't look blue. Do they have a common name?

I have a planted 100 gallon free of fish except for them and my grand daddy Magenta snails and a bunch of baby plecos both Albino, brown, and brown with a white tips on their tails. The all brown's bore me, but I like my all of them especially the albinos and more especially the brown white tipped. I know if I but the different strains in the tank will interbreed and I'll have a bunch of muts. What other fish would you suggest putting in with them. I want a schooling fish. The temp of the tank will be 82 or 83. Because the tank is in the fish room with Discus all my tanks have fish that like those temps. Any suggestions? I took the five 4 1/2'' Discus that were in it to the LFS the other day.

[famtsberg]

Re: Bushynose Pleco Facts

This guy is really shy. Good looking dood though.

[Willie]

Re: Bushynose Pleco Facts

Isn't this an ancient post?...

I've kept lots of bushynose plecos over the past two decades and this information is rather dated. I'm not aware that bushynose can gulp air, since they have no lungs. Also, they're not strict vegetarians. In fact, I can push them to spawn by adding beefheart to their diet. The more beefheart I throw in, the more frequently they'll spawn. I've never noticed that cold water will trigger spawning. They spawn regularly, in cold water, warm water or hot water. Once they start, you can't get them to stop.

The long fin versions, however, seem to spawn far less frequently than the short fin types. The 'dragon' types spawn even less often. I'm working on long fin super reds and long fin blue eye versions now, having given up on Green Dragons and Albino Green Dragons.

Willie