At what age will male Ancistrus cirrhosus bristle up?

I bought three juvies about a year ago, and all three are lovely, about 2+ inches old, and nobody's got more than a touch of whiskers. I'm thinking they're all girls? By a year of age, a fella would have more assertive bristles? Or should I just wait and see some more.

And if I was to find myself a male cirrhosus, would pandemonium ensue with all those girls? They're in a heavily planted 55 and I'm working on building areas into the plants & wood so that they feel they each have their own little territory so there's less chasing.

The other tank mates: 6 brochus splendens and 6 porkchop rasboras and a variable number of Pomacea diffusa (snails)

Hey!
Mine started to get stubble at about 1.5 to 2 inches so I would say they are girls...
I would think that one fella would be in his element with 3 girls!!! They would be fine! As long as there are lots of hiding spaces for them all they should get along well!
Was that 55 litres or gallons??

tilkifox wrote:

Hey!
Mine started to get stubble at about 1.5 to 2 inches so I would say they are girls...
I would think that one fella would be in his element with 3 girls!!! They would be fine! As long as there are lots of hiding spaces for them all they should get along well!
Was that 55 litres or gallons??

spot on....

Oh! 55 gallons -

yeah, in a 55G tank they would be growing fast and you would expet them to mature towards the shorter end of the time frame, about 9 months old. If you have had them for a year then they would be about 15 months old at a guess and def mature.

sounds like you have 3 girls, lucky you. Males are more common than females so should be easy to find a mate for them.

Im so jealous!
Would love to have a 55 gallon tank!!
A biy and 3 girls would be absolutely fine in a nice big tank like that... With lots of hiding spaces they would thrive!
Lots of babies to come hopefully lol!!!

Now I just have to confirm what exactly I've got - they were labeled temminki? temminiki? but look more like the cirrhosus most people have in pictures, I've no idea how to tell. I just put a picture up in my gallery of my biggest girl - she's got lovely markings on her back - but it has to be approved, then maybe people can give me a definite i.d. and I can go off to aquabid and get myself a male of the correct species.

Oh my!!
I just clicked while scrolling, and gave you a red mark..

Total mistake!
I was going to ask where the gallery is so I can see this girl.

She looks like a cirrhosus to me but there are people on here who know FAR more than me and will be able to say for certain, im sure...
As far as I am aware, you could put a boy of either with them and they would be fine and would breed together...
Bristlenose species often cross breed including albinos breeding with common browns etc so they would be happy together!
There are several really good posts on here about breeding and cross breeding of these awesome fish... Do a search on it and you would be amazed at the info there!

Willow, you will find the gallery in the tabs along the top!

need a clearer pic but Looks like a cirrhosus to me

am i missing something here?? were's the pic your all talking about?? :|

Hey Curby...
Its in chrisoe's gallery...

Curby wrote:

am i missing something here?? were's the pic your all talking about?? :|

I may be thick or over looking some thing but I don't get the option to see any gallery by Chrisoe...

pmsl..

This is a link to Chrisoe's picture lol!!!

http://www.bristlenoseworld.com/gallery/Personal-album-of-chrisoe/Bristlenose-Female-pic_806.htm?full=true

Yeah, I'm really struggling with my fish photography, and the girls just aren't helping. The flash goes off and they get all cranky and go hide under the drift wood (lol) I may just have to take out my little 2 gallon tank and put them in there to photograph, get out the camera stand and a light and get my photo. Hopefully they'll forgive me (lots of peas and spinach may help).

I dont have a camera so have to use my phone...
This tends to work great though cos it doesnt flash and spook them...
Just means you gotta be soooo patient lol!!