Bristlenose Pleco Care and Breeding

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Here are some other suggestions on keeping tanks algae free: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKK3hqJ3YsiapaM Want other options for algae eaters? Chinese Algae Eater information: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6CuYoSJr9iCq68 Mystery Snail Care: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYi6qWWAisR9e9E If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! kzbin.info/door/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTAjoin Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch

[@aquariumfishtalk6503]

This is EASILY the most informational video on BN plecos that I've seen!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you. Really appreciate the feedback!

[@abbystevens5693]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics how big of a tank do I need for 1 male 1 female breedingtank?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

A 20 gallon will work just fine!

[@sparkdrive2900]

Yeah as long as you hear what he is saying

[@Kazwick12]

It’s crazy to see how much you guys have come with the quality of this channel, keep up the great work

[@Kazwick12]

It also shows a lot about y’all that y’all like and comment on so many comments, many channels don’t do that

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! We're always trying to improve. :-)

[@OGBarry16]

7 years later and I’m watching to prepare for my first bristlenose… also shout out to Luke… has more fish knowledge in his right hand than I do in my whole body😂😂😂can’t wait to add one to my tank

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Have fun!

[@emfriesen6719]

We rescued a tiny tank with a young (rapidly growing) bristlenose, one corydora, and some guppies. The pleco and the cory seem to be bonded. They rest together, and eat together. It’s ADORABLE. Wish I could post a pic🥰 Thanks for the video:) we are impatiently trying to get a 30 gallon tank cycled to get my teenage bristlenose moved over to a happier home! (We love her dearly;)

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Hope the new tank works out well!

[@videogazer801]

Only the second video, wow. Well, 2023 now and 212k subscribers later and the channels is looking great.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

I've had Bristlenose for many years, I breed true Albino BN, Peppermint BN and also L270 Pleco's and they are a great tank mate for most tanks. You hit the nail on the head, they need wood and tank maintenance more often than other tank types, and a variance of food. This is a great video about them with lots of information for anyone thinking of keeping them or those that already keep them.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks Tim! Appreciate you watching!

[@grant575mixmaster]

good on you for letting the young guy give us some advice, this is such a great hobby for young people

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! He is a big help!

[@stormyravensteele7771]

I've got an Albino Bristle Nose named Casper and I have never seen a Pleco as busy as she is! She is in with my Betta in a 3.5 gallon Bettaflo tank. She is just over an inch and a half. I catch my Betta laying near her a lot of the time, so the companionship is very cool to see. She is the perfect addition to the tank which has lots of plants and driftwood. I've wanted to find a perfect food for her and will now check out the Repashy. Perhaps buy some micro ice cube trays to make it in. Great video and wonderfully informative! Bravo and thank you!

[@gibsonindistress418]

You need a bigger tank, that's wayyyy to small

[@-Aprilllll-]

They need atleast 30 gallons

[@OGBarry16]

3.5 gallon?!?

[@TheRealTMar]

I'm in love with the bristlenose now! A few weeks ago, I saw a few in real life at Wildlands Zoo. One was up on the window and it was just so cute! I'm planning for a tank of around 240 L with cardinals, bandit cory's and a couple of bristlenose pleco's.

[@Diegokitro]

I got my first BN today and I remembered you had this video, so thanks for the tips. Right now he is in a QT tank for a couple of weeks

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Very cool! I hope he works out great for you!

[@johnathanoliver1771]

Wow how much your videos have improved over 6 years

[@Ourfrenchiegirls]

Impressive Luke! Great job 👍

[@jeffb5785]

I like the videos, and I love that your son is into it with you. I have been keeping fish for over 35 years and my kids (3 of them) showed no interest when they were young.

[@sebastianschubert9450]

Audio is very low... but I love the video, thank you

[@carolinephillips3684]

Great video! I'm so attached to my albino BN guy... recently had a case of ich in the tank he's in, and was so worried I'd lose him. A month later, he's climbing up the sides and eating everything in sight! I talk to him like I do my cats, haha! I have a tiny female in another tank, and once I'm able to get a large enough space, I'd like to breed them. Thanks for the info. You guys are great.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Appreciate you watching! They are tough fish!

[@TunedRAMS]

Man you are so calm and collected!! Very fundamental and resourceful, thanks for the info!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

TunedRAMS Thank you for watching!

[@jaredfulton6047]

Y’all have gone a long way from here love you guys!

[@DN-fs2kb]

I plan to buy my own Bristlenose to take care of, this helps a lot. Ive never had my own fish before but i am very excited for the chance to keep one!

[@Ikantspell4]

Big fan of your channel. I'm just now watching your older video and amazed at how good you've become and were without the experience

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, these earlier videos are a little different. :-) Thanks for watching!

[@Ikantspell4]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics even though you're much better now you were pretty good then

[@dianeleach9097]

Your son is a great cleaner! He's gonna follow in your footsteps...when he gets to his 20s he will be a master!! With thousands of followers! His from England!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

diane leach Thank you! He’s a big help.

[@markkeller7350]

This or Bettas might be my all time favorite fish. Love these guys.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They have this endearing quality that can really grow on you. :-)

[@derikhobbs8896]

Solid vid.. Solid job from your "lil man"...great job & keep it up! You have a new subscriber now! Way to go.. keep up the work!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you. Appreciate you watching!

[@markkissbooth9526]

you guys did great thanks im new to pleckos and was told they just clean up the tank but now I know I gotta get more food for the little female albino I bought

[@UNIX_XINU]

"Morning wood"

[@donovan9490]

UNIX_XINU 😂😂😂

[@Kiyoti0]

how sly

[@inuyasha989]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° )

[@dro420mandrews]

I was like 99, just 1 more bruh

[@PULAG]

k.

[@gajison6927]

I cant imagine how much luke has changed after 5 years. Great video btw.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

He sure has! 😀

[@jeffreyleikachon1]

Need to re-do this video with your nice camera setup :) would love to see how your new colonies doing!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You're not kidding! I'd love to go back and re-do a number of these older videos. : -)

[@amarabidali5316]

little net bags are also good to cover filter intakes, they rarely need to be unclogged unlike sponges

[@krzyjstr13]

I just set up my very first tank (old 26g I got from my boss's attic), got it cycled, and added 1 baby bristle nose and 12 baby rummy nose tetras. I wasn't planning on adding the pleco but my local shop didn't have pygmy cory's so I got it, and after having him for 30ish hours I already adore him. He's a cool little fish. Thanks for helping me on this journey to becoming a fishkeeper. Prime Time Aquatics was my first FishTube experience, and The Small Scape gets me through my Saturday morning cup of coffee

[@selectpet]

Going back through some of the older videos and re watching. Thanks again for all the great videos

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Dang this is an old one. :-) Thanks for watching.

[@JoeNocella]

I have a sand section in my 29 gallon and when I drop food, my bristlenose chases all of my bottom feeding fish away. He's a bit of a bully.

[@toguro5117]

Joe Nocella same for my bristlenose she does not share at all

[@homerodelafuente7002]

I have one baby bristlenose and he kind of bully other bottom feeders lol

[@jasper777777]

Someone said they eat the plants in the tank? I want one of the longfins, and I also want a leopard frog pleco and a ornico angel. And I want to get a 60 gallon tank for them. ... as was writing you addressed the plant eating issue.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Sounds like a cool set-up. Yes, bristle nose can be hard on sword plants and I'm fairly certain they ate my temple compacta. : -/ Other than those I haven't had too many issues. Right now I have crypt wendi, crypt lutea, water wisteria, java fern, and red ludwigia in with plecos and they are doing fine. Would love to see pics once you get your tank up and running!

[@jasper777777]

Thanks, its going to take a while to get it all set up, but when I do I'll try an post some photos.

[@bunnyviperaquatics2108]

2nd video?! Blast from the past!! Thanks guys!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The way back machine. Haha

[@jgvet08]

What a helpful video! I just bought by first BN pleco at Aquashella without researching the species first and luckily my tank is perfect for him.

[@amcgeckos]

Yeah they breed easily for sure. I have 6 Chocolate BN Plecos, 2 males and 4 females. I didnt try to breed mine they bred all on their own. Lol so now I have dad and cave in a nursery tank now and watching videos to see what I have to do. Thank you for the great information.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Good luck with them! :-)

[@amcgeckos]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you.

[@hellobabybirths4801]

Great video. Thanks! I subscribed because of the kid though. My son and I do our tanks together, so we enjoy watching other families doing the same. Can’t wait to watch more videos!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! It's a lot more fun with the boys being part of it! 😃

[@BonnieLynn1975]

Thank you for the information and your compassion for the hobby is outstanding 😊

[@thetallking8400]

Thank you for the video!! I've got a question regarding the wood needed for their diet....what kind of wood, or any? cheers

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

It's not necessarily required, but we generally like to have it in the tank - mopani, malaysian or spider wood.

[@captainmggabeau397]

Had an orange male bristle nose a few years ago... named him fraggle because his bristles reminded my mom of the puppets in the show fraggle rock.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Fraggle Rock is the coolest show ever! I still have it on DVD. : -)

[@Alex_Sexton]

Where do you typically buy the food you feed your plecos?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

RIght now we feed a combo of Repashy and Northfin foods - NOrthfin can be found at Flipaquatics.com

[@jamhunt5]

Hats off to you ,,,,, You have-to have the cleanest tanks room around . Some people have Airline hose laing all over the place , junk in frout of there tanks , You can almost see the FISH

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks! I have to have a clean fish room. I wouldn't be able to use it as a relaxing place if I had stuff everywhere. : -)

[@valiaudet3415]

You're the best. Great info. 2021 now and I've watched heaps . Thank you

[@syderena]

I currently have 2 BN plecos in a 29g with plenty of hidding spots and guppy tank mates. They hate each other and chase each other for a bit if they swim past by one another lol

[@gabzgroove3088]

What's the adult size of the bushy nose pleco? Can I keep one in a 55 gallon planted aquarium with a clown pleco? Great vid!!

[@Fumango]

Id say yes

[@Diosesdepapel]

Very nice Red Bristlenose I love those Red as well as the Yellow ones , looking real nice and healthy , Thank You for all the information .. Hey Tombs up for Luke Nice Job keeping everything looking so good.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@alexandergalliano1460]

great work luke

[@aviation47551]

Hi! I have heard that if you keep bristelnoses in small tanks they don’t gonna grow so big but their organs still gonna grow and they will eventually die. It’s that true?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Not sure how much truth there is to that universally, but I wouldn't keep one of these in anything less than a 20 gallon.

[@aviation47551]

Ok thanks!

[@jerryfells8779]

Please put a link showing where to purchase those green blocks of food your fish are eating.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That is Repashy!

[@waynesaquatics]

Good afternoon, how are you? Can you do a profile on rubber lip placo? Wanted to get some but can't find any information on them, thank you, have wonderful day.

[@earthgirl7267]

Outstanding video! Thank you. 🙂 How do the Bristlenose get along with Corydoras?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I have kept them together without any issues. Thanks for watching!

[@DISPACHTclimax1]

Cool kid he is doing a great job on those tanks!

[@Hklbrries]

A friend of ours had (what we think is) a bristlenose Pleco and an angelfish in a way-too-small table-top octagonal tank. We volunteered to take them. That was several years ago. They are both thriving now and I really enjoy them. I swear the Pleco acknowledges me (blinks) when I talk to it at feeding time. I worry now that the 40-gallon tank we have is too small for it but I don’t currently have the option to upgrade. At what point (Pleco length) must I switch to a larger tank? These are now our pets and I expect them to be with us for life). Please and thank you. 💕

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If it is a bristlenose they only max out around 5-6" and a 40 gallon should be fine for its entire life. The angelfish should probably wind up in a 55 gallon or 75 gallon.

[@chrisstrates3622]

Love Your Honesty Saying That Each Batch Of Fry Is 20 30,Most Videos You See On Bristlenose People Say They Get A 100 Eggs And In My Experience That's A Lie!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, same here.

[@yoonmikim5663]

Most of the guides to bristlenose say 29 minimum. Some you can skate by with 25, according to some websites, but I keep seeing 29 minimum for bristlenose, panaque in general, and clown pleco. I have noted, those that the 20 long is the same footprint as the 29. Since they are bottom feeders, I kinda find this confusing.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I have seven 20 gallon tanks set up (some high, some long) and all have bristlenose plecos in them. In fact, my breeding pair is in a 20 long. I also know a number of people who keep them in 20 gallon tanks without any issues. Thanks for watching!

[@yoonmikim5663]

Thanks for the info. If I'm planning to keep other fish in with them, is 29 wiser (especially since they are messy)? Such as female Betta, cory cats, Kuhli, mystery snail, swordtail? I also read that keeping only one pleco per tank when not breeding is wiser, is it true of smaller species?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Sounds like the fish you have will work well with a pleco. One should be enough for a 29. If you did have more than one male in a 29 there could be problems, although I have not seen it when I keep more than one male (but they always have their own caves.

[@blufish11]

This was a great video - very clearly presented with a lot of the information I was looking for. I am just getting into trying to breed bristlenose (several varieties) and haven't had success yet. Is soilent green better than the morning wood in your opinion? Betting both is better that 1 or other.Suggest a video on caves, placement, Almond leaves,substrate or no substrate, lighting, and preparing them with food to breed if you ever are looking for a video topic. Great stuff ,Thanks!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! I would say they are both good. The biggest difference is that morning wood has a very high fiber content (50%) compared to only 8% for the soilent green. However, the soilent green has more protein (40% compared to 20%). I actually feed my plecos both morning wood and community plus along with flake food and the occasional frozen blood worm meal. If you already have driftwood in the tank, the morning wood food may not be as important. Sometimes the most important thing is to wait until they are old enough/big enough to breed. Thanks for the video suggestions. I actually have substrate, lighting and food videos planned in the not too distant future.

[@bellaangel8373]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics I feed repashy to my pleco and 2 koi but more in winter than summer becauseI I live in sunny Florida. The repashy will dissolve too quickly in hot weather even though I cover my pond with an umbrella it's hard to keep water temp below 75°. My koi and pleco are at least 16 inches. My pleco loves Florida's weather and my koi adjusted to it since they were an inch long. Wish they made a solid form of repashy to last longer like the wafers. So I just make smaller portions they'll eat right away or the repashy will start dissolving too soon. My pleco and koi love it!

[@NunyaBizznezz6969]

Excellent work guys.

[@nateavis5686]

I purchased 6 lemon blue eye bristlenose plecos. The just had their first batch of babies. All the plecos are in their own 40 gallon breeder. The substitute is getting really dirty. How do I clean it without sucking up the babies? I am able to do water changes with a sponge over the hose. Not sure how to go about cleaning the substitute.

[@Micegift]

@Prime Time Aquatics Oh my goodness! 😮 I can't believe that I have just found quite literately the 2nd video that you posted as a channel. How you have grown since then in such a short space of the is incredible. 😀 I had a surprise tonight in my goldfish tank tonight as it's not intended for breeding but I have found 5 baby Bristle Nose pleccos'!!! 😲 I breed guppies and plates but I have literally no idea what I am doing in this instance. I have a 7 gallon fry tank that houses my guppy/ Mickey Mouse Plattie new born fry that live there up until they are 6 weeks old. I keep the temperature in there at a steady 80f degrees, no sand/gravel but instead it has a carpet of Java Moss, it's scaped like a garden with a couple of live small plants with long stem plants at the back and the filtration is a sponge filter. Because I keep live barer fish in there, I feed them 'Liquifry Number 2' with baby brine shrimp & grinded 'Fluval Tropical' flakes. I change the water 3 times a week so the PH is always at a very steady 7.5. The reason why I mention this is because the plecco fry I have discovered are in a huge 55 gallon tank with 2 medium Comet goldfish, obviously the pleccos' mum & dad (Lol!) and 2 small Orandas'. I am guessing that at most they are a couple of days old so I am really worried that they will be seen as food for the other fish. Thankfully it is a very peaceful aquarium and runs at about 79f degrees with the parameters fairly standard for a hard water area like mine of 7.5 PH with the hardness of steady 180 due to living next to the River Thames here in London. Would it be possible to safely transfer the plecco fry into my nursery aquarium mentioned above by acclimatising them and making possible adjustments and the other question I have for you would be if it is possible, what adjustments would I need to make and what do I feed them on? As obviously the 'Liquifry N2' isn't necessarily designed for pleccos? I do have some spare driftwood that I can use but any suggestions you may please, will be seriously appreciated. 🙂👍🏻

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, this is an old video for sure. Haha. Pleco fry are super easy - they will eat any type of sinking food - Repashy, pellets - just about anything the adults will eat. It's a good idea to get them out of any tank where the fish are large enough to eat them if you want to maximize their survival. Good luck!

[@cameronjohnson6838]

Luke is going places

[@DaybirdAviaries]

I need more of these.

[@briant.4618]

Just bought a group of albino's, going to getting a group of super reds as well very soon.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Cool!

[@jacobbaker4545]

I just got one and these things make more of a mess than they clean up!

[@catherine8579]

Bristlenose are my fave fish. I just bout a mature pair this week & he's already territorial about his new den. I worry though if they are getting enough food coz they share a tank with a few guppies & mystery snails, & my baby bristle nose shares its tank with goldfish. I try to put the bristlenose food under the driftwood.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You can also feed them a little after the lights go off.

[@newmexicoaquatics282]

Fantastic info. Thank you for sharing! - Little Bobby

[@matthewzito6130]

I had a male Ancistrus that attacked Sarasa Comet Goldfish larger than itself. I think the problem was that the goldfish were constantly rooting in the gravel outside his favorite hiding place. I later kept the same male with danios, tetras and corys with no problems.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That certainly could cause him to do that. Plus, once they get a taste of the slime coat they may go back for more.

[@matthewzito6130]

I don't think it was the slime coat. He ripped off scales.

[@tupdaduk9057]

I have a 15 Gallon, 24 Inch by 12 Inch by 12 Inch and I was wondering if I could have 1 Male and 5 Black Skirt Tetra's, would this be fine?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I think so

[@tupdaduk9057]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks

[@paynematt73]

Professor, I am having trouble with the bristlenose. On 2 separate occasions now I have lost 2. One albino from a local fish shop and one regular from petsmart. Both fish were quarantined for 1 month in a 10 gallon before moved into a my 20 tall main tank. Both fish were doing great eating algae daily along with whatever other food makes it to the bottom. They would get northfin wafers every few days. There are live plants, snails, black neons, and danios in the tank. They each have turned up dead after a month or so in my 20. I could tell the albino was doing bad in its last few days by his coloring but had no sign at all from the regular bristlenose. What gives? 7.5 PH, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrate, 5-10 nitrate, 78F. It’s like as soon as they reach teenage years they die. Very frustrating. Thank you!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If the BN plecos are small they can be fragile. You could also try feeding them at night after the lights go off to make sure they get enough food.

[@55mebiggs]

Are the albino / white variations that are mixed in with the brown ones, from the same spawn?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They are. Both the parents are brown, but they must both carry the amino gene. I get about 25% albino from each spawn. Thanks for watching!

[@cryoraptora303tm2]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics You are correct, standard and albino varieties are both so common that they inevitably end up sharing the same environment frequently, and most standard plecos will have at least 1 albino ancestor.

[@normansanbe2337]

Good Job Luke, Thanks For The Advice...

[@tessloneill7978]

How do you clean a tank with small pleco? I accidentally hosed one up. I guess you just vacuumed very very carefully. It have three small pleco in one tank. I try to know exactly where there are so I can vacuum around them.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Ya, that's what we do - just try to be careful.

[@voz5585]

Will these feed on lucky bamboo? I plan to add it to decorate the tank

[@christianharnisch3936]

Great informational video! Kudos to Luke for his hard work, dedication to keeping those tanks so clean. Happy Holidays!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you. You too!

[@maryduck7840]

I am thinking about having a 20-gal community tank soon. I am in the research phase and was wondering if they make so much waste, does that mean that you need to change the water and/or filters? Thank you for making the videos.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You won’t have to change water and filter media anymore than normal.

[@bigjayinga]

Great video. Love watching the old ones too. Do you think they would eat angel fish eggs?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I think they would love some Angelfish eggs. : -) Thanks for watching the old ones too!

[@lindaduncan1775]

Watched and subscribed :) Great team work from you both.I have BN plecos,I have a male at the moment guarding eggs,so Ive put him with them in a separate tank,have never bred BN's before and a relatively new fish enthusiast(just over 18 months),but I absolutely love the hobby.Have Guppies,Neon Tetras,and Speckled Corydoras,and Gold Dust Mollies in the main tank.When I go to my local fish store Im like a kid in a sweet shop lol ,always on the lookout for something ,and never come out empty handed.Its by far the best hobby Ive had,and that's a shocker for me,because I never ever wanted an aquarium but a family member has kept fish for years and suggested I might find it relaxing.Well....relaxing,yes(when Im not doing water changes with buckets of water,or stressing over pregnant fish(its a woman thing lol ) Did I think Id ever be addicted?Absolutely not...am I ?Oh yes ,have a Fluval Flex for breeding,and am thinking of setting up another tank to sit alongside my 180 litre Fluval community tank:)

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That's awesome! Good luck with the bristle nose babies when they arrive. They are really cute. : -)

[@smoke1215]

thank you for the advice

[@brianjeffries207]

Can you keep them by themselves in a 75 gallon community tank or do they prefer to have fish of their own kind. What is a good Bristlenose that might stay a bit smaller than the other? Thanks!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They are fine on their own. The females stay a little smaller.

[@bigjayinga]

Great video, I just ordered some more. Thanks for the advice and info

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks Bigjayinga! Breeding them is a lot of fun. : -)

[@yreneflores5794]

Could I put this kind of fish with my betta fish ?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Definitely - we mix them all the time.

[@tupdaduk9057]

Yes 100%, They ae Perfect with Bettas.

[@enzooldmasterQ]

How long does it take to grow their bristles? I have a few which is around 2.5' but havent got those bristles yet.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I usually see them start to appear right around the 2.5" - 3" size.

[@dlattimer9949]

Great video Jason and Luke! I am really ejoying your channel. I love bristlenose catfish. I think they're a fascinating fish. I can only keep 2 at the moment due to space limitations. They are too young to sex. I got them some repashy after watching your video and they do enjoy it. Keep up the good work. Best wishes from Sydney Australia.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Awesome! Thanks for watching. It's fun watching them eat Repashy. : -)

[@MaleeHolland]

Question: I usually throw out the dirty minced wheat straw bedding for my superworms in the garden or composter, but now that I am growing out a bristlenose pleco, I am wondering if I should instead repurpose it into the feed regimen? If so, should I rinse and soak it prior to feeding (since it can expand a bit)?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I probably wouldn't use it. I'm not sure the plecos would really eat it, and you may introduce parasites into the tank.

[@sdr109]

Great video, I have 4 BN, 2 in my 60 gallon Malawi cichlid tank and 2 in my 29 gallon tetra tank. After watching your video I don't think I'm feeding them enough. Will check out Repashy morning wood. Also what type of wood do you recommend for the tanks? Thanks.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Glad they are working out for you. Thanks for watching!

[@flamefox8989]

Lukes an awesome fish kid❤

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you :-)

[@travisraplee6648]

Any tips on how to feed my bristlenose thats in with my mollies lol, the mollies tend to eat anything put in the tank at anytime. Leaving the pleco lacking, thanks!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Yep - feed them after the lights go off. The plecos usually actively forge for food at night. 😀

[@travisraplee6648]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics hey thanks that worked out, I didn't realize the eye sight of a molly in the dark was that poor!

[@johnwood738]

Going back through some videos I love.Question with your back ground in science thought you would be the one to ask.I am working with a small colony of super reds and am selecting on darkest red color do you for see any problems that might occur ,if all other things are equal? I know from breeding farm animals single trait selection can bring out hidden defects. Thank you for your time and knowledge.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Great question - I suppose the same thing could happen in this case, but I haven't seen it occur just yet with selectively breeding plecos for color. It may pop up down the line?

[@johnwood738]

Prime Time Aquatics thanks again. I know in example dogs with Merle color you are supposed to breed to a non Merle. In boxers you shouldn’t breed dogs showing much white to the same it leads to blindness,Deafness and puppies dying inside the mother

[@cathyrobidoux9140]

What kind of Pleco would you recommend for cleaning up fish waste? Awesome video, lots of great info!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Hi Cathy - generally speaking fish don't eat fish waste. Plecos will eat algae and relatively fresh food that falls to the bottom however. If you are looking for something that may help with fish waste we have had luck with some snails. Hope this helps and thanks for watching.

[@Random_Things1001]

Ghost shrimp. Super super cheap (like .39 cents). They will eat everything. They only last a few months though. Sometimes they disappear as other fish might eat them

[@SMD28101]

im looking to start a 75 gallon tank with the intentions of buying a breeding pair or more of exotic plecos. do you have a certain species of wood you recommend? Are any species of exotic plecos easier to breed than others? ty

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I actually don’t keep too many exotic plecos.

[@rogueaquatics4700]

Would a ph off 6.7 be good for breeding thanks great informative video keep up the good work

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They have bred for me at that pH. Thanks for watching!

[@polarisfluvius5981]

Hi! What’s the name of those blocks you are giving the BN? I have one albino right now and I would love to breed them eventually. How do you sex them, and any other requirements they need for breeding?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That is Repashy. This video talks about it a little more. : -) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z2jEZGeZf9Z-f5o - I think there may be a link for it in the description as well. I wait until they are about 3.5 - 4". By that time the males are showing the characteristic bristles.

[@charliejohnson2065]

How do you make them so not shy of the light? During the day mine hide away under plants and in between rocks and they only ever come out at night. It would be cool if they could come out more often. Any tips?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

It really just depends upon the set-up. In my breeding tanks they are generally the only ones in the tank and that helps. I also have quite a few in some of my tanks, which I think also helps. The thing about a lot of pleco species is they hide when the lights are on and come out at night. It's one of the reasons I don't spend money on high-end plecos that I will never see. : -)

[@charliejohnson2065]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics ok thanks for the reply, I might try to breed my 2 long finn bristlenoses, and I have only got 3 plecos in my tank (my bristlenoses and my 1 gold spot) so they shouldn't really be scared of much and I hardly have the aquarium light on (no live plants). Lastly I keep my tank clean so it wouldnt be because of the water. But thanks for your advice!

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

lots of decor and outgoing bottom dwellers like certain cories tend to bring them out more

[@imfromfallout6088]

So yesterday I got my bristlenose for the first time and I fed it around dinner time yesterday and it didn’t eat it. It just stayed on the side of the tank sucking on the wall. What should I do if it doesn’t eat.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That is normal. Plus, they will often scavenge when the light go out.

[@imfromfallout6088]

Alright thanks. I did notice that to last night I caught it moving around.

[@jtmac427]

I recently got my first bristlenose and I've had him for a few days now. I'm starting to get a little worried because I havent been able to get him to eat. I have wood in the tank and I've tried algae wafers, pellets, veggie wafers and zucchini but everything just sits there. I feed him at night just before the lights go out so its dark and the other fish don't bother him or the food but no luck. Any ideas?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

It can take a while for them to adjust to a new tank.

[@FamilySmith]

How can you tell a male placo from a female? Great job to the both of you on the video! :)

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The males get larger and have the large bristles.

[@cristiansoto6678]

I was wondering what fish shop you go to since I'm also in chicago

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The two I really like are actually up in Milwaukee - Aquatics Unlimited and Fish Factory.

[@cristiansoto6678]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Alright, thank you :)

[@velazquezjeremy1814]

I've got a betta,and a bristlenose pleco and they get along pretty well. But what should I feed it because so far I only have pleco wafers.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I like the omega one wafers because they have a lot of spirulina. I also feed sinking pellets and repashy. They also go crazy for the occasional frozen blood worm meal!

[@bellion028]

Just wondering if the bristlenose pleco would eat the eggs of south american cichlids if they are kept together?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Oh yes! Mine do all the time.

[@nikismile123]

I hardly see any air-pump working into the 6 aquariums around you, does bristlenose require additional aeration (air stone) or water movement out of an eternal canister will be sufficiently fine?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I shut off the air so the audio is better while filming.

[@Nebuladust1018]

they are so cute!

[@zanaxox6659]

great vid 👍 do you have any with a betta fish?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We currently have three tanks with betta fish and bristlenose plecos together and they are all working out great. Thanks for watching!