heyandrea_ Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 Im looking at getting one, but don't really know alot about them, eg. how to care for them, what sort of conditions they like to live in etc. Does anyone have some info? cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 They are pretty low maintanance fish. They need wood in their diet and like water temp between 21 and 29 degrees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael.qian Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 most times our personal experiences are pretty much the same as what you will find by typing "bristlenose catfish" into google. At least 2 full pages of useful info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdspider Posted July 3, 2007 Report Share Posted July 3, 2007 They are easy, can live in community tank. They need to have a piece of wood to chew on. They like tight caves and crevices. You can just feed them bits of vegies, like courgette or peas or can buy them algae tabs. They'll eat algae in your tank. They're mainly nocturnal and tend to be shy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishtv Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 They are great!I have 3 small BN in my tank and they are a must. They are 'fairly' gentle on plants (compared to a common pleco) and don't make too much of a mess while they are small. Mine are always out and are always in view. They will hide when first put into the tank but they will come out as they grow in confidence. Very cute little catfish! They love veges and algae tabs and def need wood. Good luck! Lana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 I love my bristlenose too. I've got 5 adult goldens, a huge male black, and a few baby blacks. They're great, never hurt anything, and can look after themselves. Only thing you need to have is a small piece of driftwood/bogwood in the tank that they can suck on. They love courgettes and cucumber or if that's too much bother they'll also go for algae tabs (once they learn they are food). My babies seemed to love normal flake but the adults dont so much. You never have to whipe algae off the glass again too. Awesome fishy. They breed fairly easily too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted July 4, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 and they have to be in a tropical fish tank too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 4, 2007 Report Share Posted July 4, 2007 Yes... they will handle a wide range of temps, but 19 C would be about the lowest. Tropical only in NZ. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted July 6, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 The lady at the pet shop I went to today said you can climatise them so they can live in colder temps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 6, 2007 Report Share Posted July 6, 2007 I dont think Bristlenose ( Ancistrus Species ) will handle the colder water well. Common plecos can be acclimitised to handle cooler temps and can even live outside in ponds if your climate is mild enough. But you dont want one of them in a small tank Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted July 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Is there any other types that can handle cold water aquariums and small tanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coelacanth Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 if you want to keep plecs, do it in a tropical tank, not a coldwater one. If you want coldwater fish, keep goldfish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wok Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 if you want to keep them outdoors then keep goldfish if you mean a unheated tank inside an insulated house then the common bristlenose will survive and breed. This I have done myself when I only kept orandas indoors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted July 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Yeah my tank is indoors in my lounge. I have a fireplace going in the winter so always nice and warm. Sorry if it seems that i'm asking stupid questions. My friend has a goldfish in her tank and a bristlenose catfish also. She got it when it was only small and it has grown somewhat and seems happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Sorry if it seems that i'm asking stupid questions You shouldn't be sorry for asking, if you don't ask you don't learn Ask away, there are heaps of people here to help and guide you in the right direction 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ianab Posted July 7, 2007 Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Probably work OK if you keep your house nice and warm, then the tank shouldn't drop much below the 19deg. But a small heater in there, set to 20 deg would be cheap insurance. Goldfish will be fine at that temp and many 'tropicals' can handle it too. But it's a compromise - not really ideal for either species. Cheers Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heyandrea_ Posted July 7, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2007 Much appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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