Bristlenose pleco

Behaviour and habits

The bristlenose pleco is a peaceful, nocturnal suckermouth catfish that spends much of the day hidden in a cave or on a piece of driftwood and works the surfaces for food at night. The male develops the bristle-like growths that give the fish its name and will guard a cave, fanning eggs. It is solitary and non-aggressive, but it grows fairly large and needs a tank sized for its adult length, plus wood to rasp on.

What to feed, and how often

It is a herbivore that needs wood to graze on for digestion, plus sinking algae wafers, blanched courgette and spinach. Feed in the evening so it can graze through the night, and remember that this is a grazing fish, not one that should live on leftovers alone. A varied, plant-rich diet keeps it healthy.

Water changes and maintenance

Change about 25% weekly with a gentle vacuum. It is a big eater that produces a lot of waste, so keep the water clean and nitrate low, and provide driftwood as a permanent part of the setup.

Care and how easy it is

Hardy and useful as an algae-grazer, but it needs a cave, driftwood and a tank large enough for a fish that can reach 12 cm or more.

Lifespan

With good conditions and steady water quality, this species typically lives around 5–10 years in a home aquarium; some individuals live longer.

Common health problems

Robust; problems come from a poor diet (a sunken belly) or from dirty water. Provide wood and greens and keep the tank clean.

If it gets sick

Feed wood and vegetables and keep the water clean; if the belly sinks, review the diet before reaching for treatment.