Bristlenose Pleco Antics

Earlier this afternoon I found my male bristlenose upside down on the gravel under a mopanI "bridge". As he wasn't suckered to the bottom of the wood, I went to take a closer look. I thought he was dead!

But upon closer inspection, I could see him breathing, on his back. In 2 years I have never seen him do this before!

He came out and made his rounds tonight, so I never thought much of it. But he keeps returning under this "bridge" and laying flat on his back. He just came out again, but hasn't left the mopanI wood piece.

Tried to get a picture; but a dark brown fish under the shade of mopanI wood doesn't produce much worth looking at.

Have you seen anything like this before? Any idea why he is acting like this?

 

Check under the bridge for eggs.

 

I was thinking the same thing Dino! But just before lights out he started cleaning the glass. Never saw a pleco leave his eggs, but who knows. This is definitely unusual behavior for him!

Definitely going to keep a close watch on him.

 

Yes, I have a male albino short fin that does that, but out of the cave.
I see his head and half his body sticking out of the cave, upside down. It did scared me the first time I saw it.

I guess some of them go to sleep like that, same as Clown Loaches.

 

Thanks Chris. I am seeing similar stories on the 'net. Some just like to sleep like this. Odd that he has started this now and not before. Maybe it's his way to telling me he like the new aquascape?

 

Never saw a pleco leave his eggs, but who knows.

Some do leave the eggs for short periods of time, like three or four minutes, but I've had some males that plain just kick the eggs out of the cave. Then I have to take over and hatch them artificially.

At first I would tried to put the eggs back in the cave, but he would just throw them back out.

But sleepy head never sleeps when he has eggs to tend, at least I've never seen him.

 

I've had 2 spawns with my Bn pair. Both times they used a seashell, maybe a large Apple type snail? It is about 6 inches across. Anyway, he'd shove his head so tightly into that seashell that the fry would starve. He'd keep them trapped in the seashell. Removed the shell from the tank and no more spawns...lol

 

I don't see any fanning, however it is hard to differentiate his body from the wood. I can only see part of one fin.

I always drop an algae wafer near this part of the tank. He came out chasing everyone away. But nothing too extreme. Typical antics over the algae wafers. But maybe he was not very happy to see so many others around and does have eggs hidden in there.

Just in case he has eggs I think I will drop the wafers in a different area. Would be nice to have fry from them. At least he won't be able to trap them into a shell so that they starve to death.

 

I don't think I have to tell you to keep an eye on him.
I have a few spare eyes around here if you need them, or you could use the SantaScope if you promise not to misuse it.

 

Wow! You are going to trust me with the SantaScope!!!

Yes, I have been watching him all day. The tank is only a couple of feet away from the chair I sit in. Other than the outburst this morning over the algae wafer he has been on his back all day!

I have also noticed the female is hanging around too. Starting to think there are eggs hiding in their little cave!

 

Sounds like daddy bn needs some SantaScope time anyway, as he has been a bit naughty hogging all the wafers.

 

Well, this morning noticed he was away from the wood, so I tried to take a peak to see if any eggs were in fact there. In less than 2 seconds, he noticed me and took a dive for his spot and landed on his back. I am expecting to find BN fry soon. Everything is pointing to a spawn. At least that's what I am thinking.

 

I would think you are spot on.