Aquariums and Fish Keeping

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Bristly boy (aussie.zone)

submitted 11 months ago by [email protected] to c/aquariums

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My free plecostomus I got a year or so ago. He wasn't specifically free... we just bought a tiny 15L fish tank to put some shrimp in, and when we filled it with water he appeared 😳

I'm guessing he was suckered on to the piece of driftwood and had enough moisture to survive the 48 hours or so between the seller emptying the tank, and us refilling it after buying.

Dudes fair bristly. A heck of a lot bigger now than he was when he appeared in the tank, not all that much bigger than the neo shrimp that were his tank mates.

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Good on you for keeping him!

I have one of these. He's awesome at keeping my tank clean. My SO hates him, but I think he's great, except...

Have you seen his...idk what to call them, Cheek spines? Fully out yet? It looks like he grew an alien sea anemone from the sides of his mouth. I've only seen them once in something like 10 years. I thought something was wrong with him.

Awesome little guy, thanks for sharing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Bristlenose! These guys are great little pleco.

They look even weirder if you get a "lemon" bristlenose.... They are a bright semi transparent pink. Females don't (or seldom?) grow these.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

Is that what the bristlenose is refering to? In some write ups, it seems that it indeed refers to those, but in others it just seems like the bristlenose just refers in general to the feelers they have on their faces.

Cheek spines got the most pictures appear of it, in a search.

[–] Fades 2 points 11 months ago

Wow what a story!! Always love a pleco, especially when they’re free!

[–] kitos 1 points 11 months ago

You will need a really big tank, they get really huge, and territorial but I find them really cute.