BN Pleco questions

[Taysius]

I had asked a while back if I had room for a BN pleco in my 29g and it was decided that my tank was full. I did some rearranging and hopefully the tank is better suited now as my husband bought me a little Albino BN some weeks back. The little guy(gal?) is about 2 inches long and is fairly active. I'm happy to find that it doesn't hide all day.

What I would like to know is if there is a way to tell if its getting enough food or not. I threw in some blanched zucchini but I never once saw the pleco go for it. It was devoured by MTS and Ramshorns though. I also have been tossing in an algae wafer about every other night and sometimes a few shrimp pellets instead. I never see it eat any of this but everything is gone by morning. How can I tell if the pleco is getting any of this food?

My other question is when do their bristles usually start to come in? I know that females don't get them but I really hope to have a male just for the looks. I will keep it either way but I'm just curious as to how soon you can tell.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jetajockey]

Just look at his stomach, it should be slightly bulged if he is doing well.

 

[Taysius]

Just look at his stomach, it should be slightly bulged if he is doing well.

It sounds so simple but I'm just not sure if it looks like it should or not. The stomach certainly isn't sunken looking. Should it be bulged to the sides or out underneath the body?

 

[excuzzzeme]

As long as it hasn't shrunk it's ok. Since he is new to the tank, it may take a few days before it eats. Mine went a week before they started eating.

 

[GEV83]

Its stomach when well fed will make him have a small pot belly pigish look. As long as its stomach isnt sunken in then it is fine. I wouldnt worry to much bout the lil bn. Just give it time to adjust

 

[stephcps]

Agree with above. You have awhile before you will be able to tell the sex. Infact one of mine I thought for sure was a female. I've had it for about 7 months it is around 4 inches or so. I thought it was mature. All the others I got around the same time all developed bristles and I thought this would be my only female with 3 males. Wrong...noticed a couple of weeks ago it is growing bristles. So...it'll be several months before you know sex!! But they are fun!!

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

Agree with above. You have awhile before you will be able to tell the sex. Infact one of mine I thought for sure was a female. I've had it for about 7 months it is around 4 inches or so. I thought it was mature. All the others I got around the same time all developed bristles and I thought this would be my only female with 3 males. Wrong...noticed a couple of weeks ago it is growing bristles. So...it'll be several months before you know sex!! But they are fun!!

Mature females can actually sometimes get bristles too. Mine had some small ones around her gills.

 

[RiVerfishgirl]

Oh and to answer the original poster, if you see it pooping at all it's probably eating.

As far as body condition, look at the stomach from the bottom when it's against the glass. If the belly is either flat or slightly rounded it's fine. If it's indented (sunken in slightly) it's not eating.

At that size if it hasn't been eating for 2 weeks you would be able to tell. It may just be eating enough algae as it grows on the glass and decorations that it's not that interested in other foods.

Bristlenoses aren't hard to get to eat like some other plecos. I have yet to see one let itself starve. If you're throwing in pellets at night I assume it's eating when you're not watching.

 

[GEV83]

Actually females getting bristles varies upon the species. Some species get them others wont. Only the males get them for sure. Just depends on which one the OP has.

 

[aquanurse]

I take my algae wafers and stick them in the cucumber and drop them in as soon as the lights go out. I put them on both sides one side, he will attach to and the other side keeps the other fish busy nipping at it. He will eat the entire wafer and almost all of the cucumber I put in as well. Just my .02. Good luck.:idea::idea: