Everybody's breeding bristle nose plecos!

[captmicha]

Has anyone else noticed this trend? I keep seeing them all over the place all of a sudden. Craigslist, fish groups, classifieds, whatever. If you breed them, I'm wondering why?

Are they the latest trend in fish keeping?

 

[esoepr1976]

I only have one, so I'm not breeding, but they are a very nice fish to have. They are also a fairly easy fish to breed as far as pleco's go.

Emily

 

[ManEatingShrimp]

I love my bn plecos. I didn't even know I had a male and female before they bred. I just got an albino and a black pleco from the lfs and then one day I saw babies everywhere. I didn't even have a cave for them! They just used a hole in some porous rock I have.
So I guess its because they are awesome fish that are pretty cheap and readily available at most lfs and chain stores. And in my experience very easy to breed.

 

[Captain Jim]

They are a curious breed. Surprisingly, for such a secretive fish, they have obvious personalities, they live longer than a lot of fish, and they live and let live as long as thier territory is not encroached.

 

[SubRosa]

It'd be nice to think that the word is getting out about the unsuitability of common Plecos to most tanks.

 

[captmicha]

It'd be nice to think that the word is getting out about the unsuitability of common Plecos to most tanks.

YES! I couldn't agree more. It seems a lot of people on Craigslist think they'll strike it rich by buying fry of large fish and then raising them up to size and then trying to sell them off at retail price. Then I see them re-posting again and again and slowly, they seem to learn that homes for big fish are few and far between and are probably willing to just give the fish away at that point.

I have one bristle nose pleco and I don't see him much. I can't really attest to personality. Maybe if I got another, it wouldn't hide so much? I have a lot of cover in my tanks.

 

[excuzzzeme]

It actually runs in spurts. Seems like everyone is in to breeding them and then all of a sudden, no one has any. Seems to be that way with many different species of fish and inverts.

 

[rufioman]

Lots of bn breeders here now. The chains got them in and people are getting 2-3 for a tank and are surprised when they have a massive overload of fry.

 

[captmicha]

Maybe I shouldn't get 2 then. I don't really want to have bunches of babies. Are they happier in groups though?

 

[FINJOY]

EASY TO BREED BUT THEY LEAVE AN UNBELIEVABLE DAILY MESS OF POOP....