Whoa! Bristlenose!

[mcox3]

i was watching my bristlenose last night and he was hanging onto the glass when all of a sudden his gills flared up! it looked like bristles came out of his gills or something... very wierd... anyone know whats going on?

not really too worried, but curious!

 

[bettagurl]

like this?
its completely normal, they normally do that when under stress.
was another fish nearby when he did it?

 

[Star_Rider]

it's part of their defense mechanism..

they need to flare them every once in awhile....it is very normal.

 

[mcox3]

i wasn't aware if another guy was coming near or not, but after he did it he slid down the tank...

 

[TropicalNorth]

My male bristlenose does it every now and then, to me it looks like he's yawning, very normal. Sometimes he does it as a 'get away' message to other fish but he's never actually damaged other fish with the spikes.

 

[TipStylez]

im pretty shure its yawning.

Some fish even blink but really just look down haha.

Loaches do the same thing, once in awhile you see them stick their lil spines out.

 

[Rbishop]

Normal.

 

[mcox3]

right on... well i was impressed... reminded me of Jurrasic Park.

 

[fballguy]

Yep, just a defense mechanism. Its really interesting watching them do that.

 

[syddakyd]

mine held down a piranha by jabbing it with those