I swapped some fish yonks ago for 4 tiny bristlenoses. I have only ever seen 3 out at the same time, but 2 are about 3-3.5cm long and the other 1 is close to 5cm long. None showing any bristles but the big one is real bossy. Chasing the others away from food etc. Is it likely the big one will be a female?

I don't think so it just means it's getting the most food. my males didn't get bristles to about 6-6.5cms so yours may be males but I think yours are too small to sex yet. some get bristles early but I think at about 6-7cms you'll be able to sex them.

oh ok, how old are they generally at 6-7cm? i think i've had them for 6 months and they were 1.5cm when i got them. I was woried they weren't getting enough food and put corguette in but the darn snails just devour it instead.

I find that they have to get use to corguette before they eat it. Mine grew from about 4cms to 9cms in about 10 months. once they get to about 5cms they start growing really slowly. Are you going to try breed them? I have a 7cm male that was in a tank that had no other BNs and has really small bristles and my 9cm one had big bristles that started growing really fast when I put a large female in the tank so maybe they grow bristles when theres a female in the tank.

Wasn't intending to breed them as they're brother and sister. But i thought i'd look out for the different sexes and might see if i could swap them if i have one of each sex. They're extremley cute little things.

actually imsweet you can breed them as is (i.e bro and sis) yep i know it sounds weird but yr actually fine until about the 6th generation believe it or not this happens in nature as for yr bully probably a male but not definite as mine start developing small bristles at5-6cm but males do tend to chase females off food more often than females chasing females

HTH

mr pleco

actually imsweet you can breed them as is (i.e bro and sis) yep i know it sounds weird but yr actually fine until about the 6th generation believe it or not this happens in nature HTH

mr pleco

WOW, thanks for that MR Pleco. Someone did tell me i would have trouble with them once they started breeding.... ie; not stopping and getting rid of them. Personally i dont have much luck with breeding anything, so i'm not that bothered. I like seeing them on the glass and my daughter gets to 'touch' a "fisssss" (as she calls them) They dont shy away like the corydoras do when you stare for ages

thats great to hear imsweet and glad yr daughter likes the fisss lol sounds like you have an ideal setup when this occurs they tend to come out more and dont shoot off when you look as they know they have a safe place to hide if need be... enjoy and glad i could help