My new Bristlenose Pleco is so shy...

I've had my bn for about a month now. He is between 1 1/2 to 2 inches so still pretty small. I don't get many chances to see him as he hides as soon as he see's me.

Do they become more brave as they get older? Or is it possible he will always be a shy BN and hide...??

 

they do get braver, but it depends how comfy he feels in his new home and do you have plenty of bog wood and hiding places?

 

there are several pieces of driftwood as well as many plants so he has lots of places to go to be 'out of site'. I also have a few clay pots (broke in half and partially burried), however I haven't seen him use those. Other than the clay pots I don't have any type of cave like deco.

 

He'll begin to come out more as he gets comfortable with the new tank. Also they get braver as they get bigger.

 

If you drop in their algae wafer at the same time every day in the same location you will soon find he will be waiting for you. Once he figures out you are the food source, he'll come out more.

 

I've had my bn for about a month now. He is between 1 1/2 to 2 inches so still pretty small. I don't get many chances to see him as he hides as soon as he see's me.

Do they become more brave as they get older? Or is it possible he will always be a shy BN and hide...??

It took my rubberlip pleco a few months to be comfortable enough to be out and about. The BN has always been pretty bold and is regularly swimming around the tank.

Just be glad you didn't get a clown pleco

 

BNs are, IMO, the most outgoing of the Pleco family. Give it time.

I own a few different species, my King Tiger I see once every few weeks.

 

thanks for the responses!

 

Another idea is to keep the tank lights on and in the evening sit in the dark room. Find a comfortable spot, and sit and watch. The fish have a harder time seeing you but you can see them clearly. You would be surprised at how much fish move when they think they are not being watched. This method was the only way I saw my pleco for a long time, it is finallly getting more outgoing, but sudden movements still startle it. Good luck.

 

If you drop in their algae wafer at the same time every day in the same location you will soon find he will be waiting for you. Once he figures out you are the food source, he'll come out more.

this is what I have done and I can see my pleco's anytime I want now as they are always swimming about and of coarse waiting on me every night for there treat..