Adult Bristlenose Pleco Gender

I've had a male albino BN for a few years now so decided to get a female and try spawning them. My LFS say BN are in high demand (they want 20$ for an unsexed brown juvie!) but they don't have the time/space to breed them themselves. I recently traded in a bucket of plants and got an adult female(?) albino in return.

I got to choose between two female, but both had bristles on their lips. The owner of the shop swears that it's a female and that it has spawned for him in the past.

Is this really a female? I know some can have a few bristles along their lips but this seems a bit much. It does seem pretty plump compared to my male. Is there a way to vent a BN pleco and be 100% sure on the gender?








I've placed her (?) in the tank with my albino male about a week ago and he chased her around a bit, but things have already calmed down. I'm thinking of switching out the albino male with my long finned normal colored boy and seeing if he's a little more interested.

 

The bristles are on the long side, but I do think it is a female. If it were a male, I think the bristles would be growing in other spots by now, as opposed to just around the edges of the lips. Maybe bizaliz3 or DoubleDutch can chime in.

 

I'd say a female. Only bristles on the lips (which are quite large btw)

 

Good to hear that it seems to be female I'm guessing she is up there in years, probably older than my male. Maybe the older a female gets the more likely she is to have some hairy lips? Hopefully they will spawn in a couple more weeks after getting extra food

 

My male has taken to her and they are now flirting in one of my DIY ceramic caves. They've been courting for several hours but still no eggs. Perhaps in the morning?

Both are cuddled together in there.

 

It took longer than expected but I've got me some fry that are doing great. Mom is in a 29gal while dad takes care of the brood in a 20gal tall. Curious to see what shades of albino they will be. Mom is more white while dad is a yellow.

 

Congrats!!
Those are definitely some LOOOONG bristles for a female! None of my females have ever had more than little nubs on their lips. Impressive!!

I wish I had people willing to spend $20 on unsexed brown BNs. That is just crazy!