What the heck is my pleco doing?

M

ManEatingShrimp

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Jan 28, 2012
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There is a large rock in my 90 gallon that it is very porous with deep indentations in the back. There is a small hole I can see through into one of these holes and I can see the tail of my bristlenose pleco. Its just sitting there shaking its back fins constantly.
I scared it out a while ago to make sure it wasn't stuck but its back in the same place with its head in the hole just moving its fins.
Any ideas what its doing?
 
Hiding iirc they're nocturnal

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If it's not stuck, i suspect it's eating or trying to eat something. I'd be nervous it'd get stuck though. Had a gourami who liked to get stuck in things way back when.

Though, since you mention it, bristlenose are fun to watch. Mine did this recently (see attachment). Climbled right inside the bubble stream coming from my sponge filter. Had to scare him out so as not to get all cut up. That and they never really get smaller.

bristle1.jpg
 
If there is a chance to be female she may have laid eggs and is fanning them without a male present. They won't develop but she doesn't know that. The second option is that it is a male trying to make a "cave" or home.

Beyond those guesses who knows?
 
I gave my BNs caves to hide in, and they rarely come out unless they smell cucumber on the menu. I have had them use large shells, driftwood, under rocks, and any other place they can sqeeze into. He is shaking his tail to warn other plecos to stay away from his cave. Unless you plug it up, he will probably use it as his home. But be careful he doesn't get stuck. Maybe put some other cave-like hiding places in your tank, and he may adopt one of them. Some guys like having more than one cave anyways.
 
BING!

You've got male!

Wow...that is now an ancient joke..innit?

Sounds like a male fanning eggs or at least practicing...

Dont sweat it.

Side note...mine like to swim inside the sponge filter tube too but I haven't seen one come to harm yet doing it.
 
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Well I do have 2 bn plecos... But they ussually charge each other when they see each other. One is albino and one is black with spots. Both are older than 6 months and they are ussually very active, especially the black one which is the one in the hole.

Should I disturb the pleco to see what sex it is? I probably won't be able to see if there are eggs though.
 
If they are BN plecos...males have bristles, females usually do not. I wouldn't worry about it. 6mos might be a bit young for breeding in my limited experience, but he could be "carrying out the motions". It's happened here, but with males that were closer to a year old. I currently have a ~ 1 year old that is fanning someting...not sure if he has viable eggs in the cave...

Could be a "this is my territory" thing too.
 
i rarely see any of my bn plecos (one adult female, three juvies - one male, two female). they like to hide in the nooks and crannies in their mopani wood, and if they are out when i go to turn on the lights, they are very quick to scuttle to their hidey spots.

as long as the hole isn't too small, or shaped in such a way that the pleco could wedge himself in there and get stuck, i wouldn't worry one bit.
 
+1^

even when i had a male and female(known sexed, proven pair, still have them) they would fight and my female would need to go hide/rest

and MOST of the time, females DO NOT have bristles...BUT in some cases or time periods, they will...
 
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