| Sexing BNs | |
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miles Fish Egg
Number of posts : 16 Location : United States Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-12-01
| Subject: Sexing BNs Thu Dec 01, 2011 8:45 pm | |
| How old are BN plecs when they grow their 'bristles"? mine is about 6cm (2in) and it looks like it has them but only around its mouth. Will more develop on its head when it is older? | |
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jim.and V.I.P Member
Number of posts : 1449 Age : 67 Location : England Job/hobbies : Warehouse Op Thank You Points : 107 Registration date : 2010-08-04
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Thu Dec 01, 2011 11:20 pm | |
| There is no hard and fast rule about when they will start breeding. They will often breed at 5-6cms and around 9-10 months old but it varies from one to another. As they reach maturity they normally lose the white patches on the dorsal and tail fins.
If it's the one in your avatar going by the bristles and shape then I would say male but a couple of head shots should confirm it. | |
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kfenk V.I.P Member
Number of posts : 1432 Age : 39 Location : Adelaide, South Australia Thank You Points : 79 Registration date : 2009-11-09
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Fri Dec 02, 2011 2:55 am | |
| ^what he said If I was you I'd be acquiring a breeding cave/log for him and a nice gravid girlie so he's got someone to impress with furious fanning | |
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Doug Bristlenose King
Number of posts : 3128 Age : 37 Location : Adelaide, South Australia Job/hobbies : Aquatic ecologist/genetisist Humor : yes please :) Thank You Points : 198 Registration date : 2010-05-08
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:04 am | |
| yeah, agreed, looks like a little fella!
Get him a woman! | |
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miles Fish Egg
Number of posts : 16 Location : United States Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-12-01
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Fri Dec 02, 2011 3:45 am | |
| he has driftwood and a PVC pipe in his tank for his future wife to lay her eggs in | |
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Bristlenoses V.I.P Member
Number of posts : 992 Age : 58 Location : Mansfield,Nottinghamshire,East Midlands U.K Job/hobbies : Bristlenoses,photography,animals,nature,drawing and painting,films,books,internet. Thank You Points : 59 Registration date : 2011-08-26
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Fri Dec 02, 2011 1:02 pm | |
| Hi again,P.V.C pipe isn't always that good for breeding as the eggs sometimes have a hard time sticking to it.My advice is to get either one or two clay caves or slate caves or do what i do and get a nice piece of bog wood and drill a cave into it of the correct dimentions | |
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miles Fish Egg
Number of posts : 16 Location : United States Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-12-01
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sat Dec 03, 2011 3:13 am | |
| well i also have two little "houses" i made from concrete blocks that the female could lay her eggs in. my only concern is my red tailed shark or gourami eating the eggs, in the PVC pipe they would be safer | |
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Doug Bristlenose King
Number of posts : 3128 Age : 37 Location : Adelaide, South Australia Job/hobbies : Aquatic ecologist/genetisist Humor : yes please :) Thank You Points : 198 Registration date : 2010-05-08
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:49 am | |
| i would get the concrete out of the tank asap! it leaches chemicals and makes the water very hard | |
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miles Fish Egg
Number of posts : 16 Location : United States Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-12-01
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sun Dec 04, 2011 6:48 pm | |
| it has been in there for about a month and the fish are fine | |
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jim.and V.I.P Member
Number of posts : 1449 Age : 67 Location : England Job/hobbies : Warehouse Op Thank You Points : 107 Registration date : 2010-08-04
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sun Dec 04, 2011 8:16 pm | |
| I agree with Doug, the very least it will make the water harder due to the lime in it. What effect some of the other chemicals may have may be more dangerous. Bn's will also rasp at the concrete and this could cause digestive problems.
As mentioned elsewhere Bogwood is usually the cave of choice but there are plenty of inexpensive options that can be used. There are usually plenty on a certain auction site.
Mooo has posted information about a DIY cave HERE | |
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bristlenoseblundell Small Fry
Number of posts : 38 Age : 53 Location : southampton, england Job/hobbies : keeping Tropical fish, Fishing. Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-11-05
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:05 pm | |
| - Bristlenoses wrote:
- Hi again,P.V.C pipe isn't always that good for breeding as the eggs sometimes have a hard time sticking to it.My advice is to get either one or two clay caves or slate caves or do what i do and get a nice piece of bog wood and drill a cave into it of the correct dimentions
Hi bristlenoses what are the right or correct dimentions? i would love to no the correct dimentions as it would help me breed my bn quicker. All the best and Happy Christmas bristlenoseblundell. | |
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Doug Bristlenose King
Number of posts : 3128 Age : 37 Location : Adelaide, South Australia Job/hobbies : Aquatic ecologist/genetisist Humor : yes please :) Thank You Points : 198 Registration date : 2010-05-08
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Sat Dec 24, 2011 10:29 pm | |
| my most successful caves are 5cms wide, 2.5 high and 15-20cm deep. | |
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bristlenoseblundell Small Fry
Number of posts : 38 Age : 53 Location : southampton, england Job/hobbies : keeping Tropical fish, Fishing. Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-11-05
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:10 am | |
| Hi Doug
Many thanks...again you come up with the goods.
Thank you Sir.
Lee | |
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Bristlenoses V.I.P Member
Number of posts : 992 Age : 58 Location : Mansfield,Nottinghamshire,East Midlands U.K Job/hobbies : Bristlenoses,photography,animals,nature,drawing and painting,films,books,internet. Thank You Points : 59 Registration date : 2011-08-26
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:02 am | |
| Hi,the caves mine always use are 12cm deep and 4 and a half cms diameter ( tubular ) It would also depend on the size of your fish as they like tight fitting caves. | |
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bristlenoseblundell Small Fry
Number of posts : 38 Age : 53 Location : southampton, england Job/hobbies : keeping Tropical fish, Fishing. Thank You Points : 1 Registration date : 2011-11-05
| Subject: Re: Sexing BNs Wed Dec 28, 2011 3:48 am | |
| Hi Bristlenoses
Thanks for your response, i think we have similar caves cos mine are the same measurements as yours all but one.
Many thanks
Lee. | |
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| Sexing BNs | |
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