HELP! AT LEAST 50 NEWBORN BRISTLENOSE!

[Goldie Lox]

I have 4 golden bristlenose plecs (see picture of mom at your left), 3-4" long. LFS sells only males. Well, a couple of days ago I noticed a tiny 1/4" long golden sucker eating algae on the back wall of my 55 gal.

I had placed a 2-3" seashell (conch-shaped) in one corner amongst dense low foliage for a calcium experiment. Well, one the the bristlenoses had about 50-75 babies. Most of them are still inside the shell. Mama has her head in there, possibly protecting them. About a dozen are grazing on the bottom and some on the walls eating algae.

What the heck am I going to do with these fry? I can't keep them. No LFS wants them - not even for free. I hate to see them eaten as food for the bigger tankmates - anyone think that is even an option? I am open to suggestions!!!

I can't even capture one yet in a small net as they cling to the walls like glue and slide around like lightning.

Help!!!! Sell them on Ebay to the highest bidder? Secretly take them to the LFS (the one with an ATTITUDE, if you know what I mean) and discreetly place them in a tank with like-kind bristlenoses? I am excited, shocked, and scared! ADVISE PLEASE! I love the advise, questions, humor, knowledge, and thoughtful answers from all of you fishkeepers.

 

[loaches r cool]

Why not post a listing in the classified section? I am sure many folks here would be interested especially if you dont mind letting them go free. Question is where are you? If you were around here I would definately be interested in helping you with your problem

I remember reading somewhere on the forums that a guy was getting several dollars for each BN pleco he'd sell to the lfs. He basically always had enough credit selling the plecs than he never had to pay for any fish he bought at the lfs. Can't beleive non would deal with you.

 

[Dwarf Puffers]

Your LFS must really be foolish, I've seen albinos for 15$...

 

[IceH2O]

No kidding, what LFS wouldn't want free Bristlenoses?

I know I'd be willing to take a few off your hands.

 

[pinkertd]

What else is in the tank with the plecos? The pleco in your avatar sure looks like a male. Only males get bristles like that and I'm sure the one you see protecting the shell where the babies are is a male as well. Once the male gets the female into the "breeding cave", she leaves and has nothing more to do with eggs and fry. Daddy will fan the eggs until they hatch and then guard the hatched fry in the cave until after their egg sacks are absorbed and he feels they are ready to come out and eat food. Newly hatched bristlenose I fear would not do well if you took them out soon and put them in a new water environment like at the LFS. It will be approximately 6 weeks if they are fed well before they reach 1" in size, then they could successfully go elsewhere. And now that you have a pair breeding, you can probably count on them to breed regulary every 5 weeks or so. You may have more females than you think and more than one female will enter to cave to spawn with the male at the same time!!

 

[Eupterus]

Depending on your locale, I'd be happy to take 2-4 off your hands...

 

[hope4peace]

I have been looking to get a small pleco for my larger tank when I get it. I could possibly take one or two. How large do these get full grown? I am looking for no more than 6-7 inches max. what do they eat? veggies, wood or meat? And, will they be ok with my cories? I have heard some bristlenose can be aggressive twards other bottom feeders. But, as long as they stay small under 7 inches, don't eat wood, and wont bother my cories, if you can safely ship them I might be willing to take one or two. Can I see a picture of the adults?

 

[lovemybarbs]

Maybe you should craigslist them.

Keep them in there, let them grow, and then sell them.

They would go really fast.

I wish I could get one once they were a little bigger.

Congrats on the babies!

 

[starfishplus]

hey sounds like good lucky to me . i would be glady to take about 6 if u let me know where u r.i have alot of tanks for them.karen

 

[leighasnana]

I'd love some of those babies. I'm in Ontario, Canada. P.M. me if you're nearby.

I don't think a lfs will take fry. I'd grow them out and take them in for store credit if I was you. Big Al's takes small fish for store credit and 6 weeks goes by very quickly.

I don't know anything about pleco fry. How big are they? Could you possibly set up some type of divider in the tank to separate them from the other fish? When they come out to eat could you put a piece of zuchinni or something they like on the gravel and net that? I caught a tiny cory fry yesterday, it was on the gravel so I scooped it up with the gravel and just prayed I didn't squish it and it worked. You may not save them all but I'm sure if you're patient you'll get some out of there.