Bristlenose Plecos are odd-looking fish, with bushy beards and beady eyes that deserve a place in your aquarium.
They are top-tier algae eaters, peaceful community residents, and fascinating to watch as they busily graze their way across a tank.
If you’re unfamiliar with these smaller Plecos I think it’s time you got to know them better. This guide covers everything you need to know about Bristlenose Pleco care.
What Are Bristlenose Plecos?
South America is home to several popular aquarium fish. All Plecos call this continent home and are found mostly in the tropical regions of the Amazon and Orinoco River basins.
The Bristlenose Pleco is part of the Loricariidae group, which is actually the largest family of catfish of all! These fish are specialized for life in the main current of streams and rivers.
Their rounded, downturned mouths not only securely attach them to hard surfaces in swift current but also work for rasping away at algae and detritus, food sources relatively few fish compete for.
Like Common Plecos, the Bristlenose Pleco is an excellent algae eaters and easy to find in most pet stores. However, they are a better choice for most aquarists and well worth your attention!
Do Bristlenose Plecos Really Clean Your Tank?
While Bristlenose Plecos do eat algae, they really don’t “clean” your tank. This is mostly a marketing gimmick to get you to buy a Pleco on a whim.
If you have a dirty and unkept tank, throwing in a Bristlenose pleco isn’t going to be the magic cure. That being said, they can help keep things a bit tidier than usual.
Bristlenose Pleco vs Common Pleco
Both fish are members of the same family and are commonly sold in the trade as algae eaters. So it’s worth getting to know the differences between the two types of plecos.
I use the word “type” loosely because both are a mess of different species that are sold under the same name. There are around half a dozen fish that all get called Plecostomus or Suckermouth Fish.
They are all some of the largest species of suckermouth catfish, reaching 18-24 inches when fully mature. As true tank busters and vegetarians that produce copious amounts of waste, adult Common Plecos are unsuitable for all but the largest of aquaria.
Bristlenose Pleco Size
The Bristlenose Pleco, on the other hand, is mature from 4 to 6 inches, depending on the species. They are also gentle with plants and decorations. Plecostomus will eat softer leaves and knock over decorations, especially when startled. Bristlenose Plecos are also less territorial and can even be kept in groups.
Bristlenose Plecos are usually a bit more expensive than Common Plecos in the trade. However, their smaller size makes them the better option for most aquariums.
How Long Do Bristlenose Plecos Take to Grow?
Bristlenose Plecos usually take about 2 years to reach full size, which is about 4 to 6 inches.
Bristlenose Pleco Care
Medium-sized and hardy, Bristlenose Plecos are an attractive alternative for aquarists looking for an algae eater. Here’s what you need to know about Bristlenose Pleco care.
Bristlenose Pleco Tank Size
While not particularly large, Bristlenose Plecos are chunky enough that they need a bit of space, especially when keeping pairs or groups. 20 gallons of space is a minimum for a single 4-6 inch adult, with an additional Pleco per 10 gallons of space.
Water Conditions
Bristlenose Pleco fish are found in tropical South America and Panama in tropical streams and rivers.
Ancistrus species can be found in both swift-flowing headwaters, sluggish forest streams, and the winding course of the Amazon itself.
They can be found even in blackwater habitats along with Discus and Cardinal Tetras. These plecos are great algae eaters for these specialized blackwater biome tanks.
Water parameters should be tropical in temperature, from 74-82F, with a soft to neutral pH (5.5-7.0).
Most Bristlenose Plecos are captive bred these days so they are tolerant of water on the hard side as well, up to pH 7.5. Still, soft water improves immunity and appetite. Also is essential for breeding.
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate should be close to 0ppm. But Bristlenose Plecos are hardy and can tolerate briefly elevated levels with little stress.
Bristlenose Plecos (and Plecostomus in general) are good indicators of dissolved oxygen levels. They are facultative air breathers, meaning they can absorb atmospheric oxygen in times of need, but otherwise prefer to breathe through their gills.
Occasionally, you’ll see your Bushynose Pleco rush to the surface for a quick splashing gulp, before swiftly returning to the bottom. This is normal behavior but if it happens a few times per hour it may be a sign aquarium dissolved oxygen levels are lower than they should be.
Investing in a curtain bubbler, powerhead, or adjusting the flow of your hanging filter to create additional surface agitation is the best solution for low oxygen levels. Live plants also provide supplemental O2 for your fish while locking away toxic nitrates!
Plants and Driftwood
One reason these freshwater fish are so popular in the hobby is that they are some of the best aquarium algae eaters out there. While they don’t touch brown diatoms they will eat nearly all kinds of green algae, polishing rocks, driftwood, plant leaves, and aquarium glass in the process.
Since they are so good at their jobs algae can reach levels too low to keep them properly fed. If you see your Bristlenose Plecos actively eating plant leaves it’s a sign you aren’t feeding them enough.
They preferentially eat algae, detritus, driftwood, and decaying plant material but will switch to live plants if there’s nothing else available.
It’s rare but sometimes a Pleco will simply take a liking to the taste of a particular plant even if they are well fed. Stocking an aquarium with bitter, tough-leaved epiphytes like Java Fern, Anubias, and African Water Fern can help a lot.
Do Bristlenose Plecos Need Driftwood?
Bristlenose plecos do not need driftwood, but it definitely benefits them. They like to snack on driftwood and a piece of their diet, so I’d definitely recommend adding a few pieces to your tank if you plan on keeping a Bristlenose.
Tankmates for Bristlenose Plecos
As a rule, Bristlenose Plecos are model community tank inhabitants, even better than Common Plecostomus. Bristlenose Plecos never rasp on the sides of broad-bodied fish like Discus and other fish. Nor are they aggressive to other bottom dwellers. Although they will certainly eat any eggs they come across they are no threat to free-swimming fry.
Good Tank Mates for Bristlenose Plecos
- Middle and Upper Water Schooling Fish (Tetras, Rasboras, Barbs, Danios, etc)
- Livebearers
- Gouramis
- Bettas
- Corydoras
- Most Cichlids
What’s more important is choosing freshwater fish that won’t bother your Bristlenose Pleco. They actually do well in a Cichlid tank thanks to their armored flanks and defensive cheek spines. However, their bushy beards can be tempting for some fish to pick at, such as Puffers and Tiger Barbs! These wounds can result in both stress and open routes for infection to take hold.
Poor Tank Mates for Bristlenose Plecos
- Aggressive to Large Cichlid
- Puffer Fish
- Nippy Barbs (ex: Tiger Barbs)
- Larger, Aggressive Plecostomus species
When kept together Bristlenose Plecos will occasionally act territorially towards one another, especially males, but never viciously so. For one they don’t have sharp teeth to do battle with.
Males do have cheek spines that they use when displays get heated but they rarely do lasting harm to one another. So long as there is ample room for grazing and hiding places for all they can be kept in groups without fear.
Can Bristlenose Plecos Live Alone?
Bristlenose plecos can absolutely live alone in a tank. They’re perfectly happy by themselves and don’t always need tank mates to keep them company.
Can Multiple Bristlenose Plecos be Kept Together in the Same Tank?
Beginner fishkeepers should not keep more than one more Bristlenose per tank. Fully grown males tend to get aggressive with each other, which can be dangerous and a lot to manage for someone who has never dealt with aggression in fish before.
Feeding Bristlenose Plecos
Once aquarium algae runs low you’ll want to start providing vegetables in as much variety as you can! Spirulina flakes and algae wafers are perfect for Bristlenose Plecos. HIKARI Tropical Algae Wafers are undoubtedly the best choice as they are formulated for algae eaters and appropriately sized for different species.
Feel free to also offer blanched terrestrial vegetables like peas, carrots, spinach, and cauliflower. They provide valuable nutrients and roughage for healthy digestion.
Bristlenose Plecos are a bit unusual for fish in that they absolutely LOVE waterlogged driftwood. As driftwood ages the outer layers soften and slowly decay, creating a tasty mush of detritus, algae, and microorganisms that Bristlenose Plecos will spend all day grazing on.
While driftwood isn’t essential, providing a nicely aged piece goes a long way towards their general health and happiness! Driftwood also provides hiding places, slowly releases tannins that buffer the pH towards acidity, and provides stable rooting places for the epiphytic plants mentioned above. If you’re interested in learning more about choosing the right kind, have a look at my Driftwood Guide here!
Bristlenose Plecos do need a small amount of protein-based food and usually get enough in prepared formulas. They will also eat live and frozen foods like Bloodworms and Tubifex but these should never be more than 20% of their diet relative to vegetable matter.
How Often Should I Feed a Bristlenose Pleco?
Like most freshwater aquarium fish, you should feed your Bristlenose pleco once or twice per day. Bristlenose plecos generally eat a bit slower than most other fish, so be sure that your plecos food isn’t being stolen by more aggressive fish in the tank
Breeding Bristlenose Plecos
While not super easy to breed, Bristlenose Plecos are mostly captive-bred now. It takes a bit of knowledge of their natural rhythms, combined with extra food and space for the father to rear the eggs!
Sexing Brislenose Plecos
Unlike most catfish, telling male Bristlenose Plecos from females is a relatively simple affair once they are sexually mature. Males have a more prominent bushy “beard” as well as long cheek spines that they use both to spar with each other and defend against predators.
If you need to net a Bristlenose Catfish beware these spines, which can get tangled up in nets or even prick a careless finger. While not poisonous they are certainly painful.
A male Pleco is also more territorial, especially when you start replicating the breeding season for them. You should keep around 2 female Bristlenose Plecos per male for any breeding project.
Spawning & Raising Bristlenose Pleco Fry
One of the best ways to condition them is to do a 50-75% water change while allowing temperatures to cool to 72-74F. Note: we still want to maintain our pH levels.
So adjust the parameters as necessary when adding fresh water to the tank. Sudden, drastic shifts in pH can be lethal to fish.
The sudden influx of fresh water mimics the rainy season floods, which is the breeding season in their natural habitat. Additional large water changes can be done biweekly. Last, we also want to provide a good selection of prepared and blanched vegetable matter for our Plecos.
Eventually, you see an increase in territorial fights among males and displays made towards female Plecos. Males choose a cave along the flooded riverbank in nature; a driftwood hollow or overturned clay pot can work just as well in aquaria.
Soon the female will swell with eggs and become receptive to his attention. Then the male guides her into his cave where she attaches the eggs to a hard surface. He will fertilize them and then chase her away.
Male Plecos are very good parents. They spend time aerating the developing eggs with their fins and guarding the cave against intruders for the 5 to 10 days it takes for the Pleco fry to hatch.
Caring for Pleco Eggs and Fry
Your water quality should be top-notch, with small frequent water changes during this period. Like most fish eggs they are sensitive to fungal infections and once a single egg gets infected the disease can spread to the entire clutch.
Infected eggs turn opaque and fuzzy while viable eggs are translucent yellow or orange. Usually, the father will eat infected eggs but if you see eggs beginning to fuzz it’s worth taking tweezers and removing them despite his wrath. You can also try antifungal agents like Pimafix but these agents are better used in hospital tanks.
Once the Bristlenose Pleco fry hatch they are vulnerable and immobile for their first 4 days as they absorb their yolk sack. Once they are no longer weighed down they begin foraging for algae and detritus and leave their cave for good! Over the course of 6-10 months, they develop until they are as large as their parents and ready to begin the cycle anew.
Bristlenose pleco: Conclusion
The Bushy Nose Pleco is an aquarium favorite for many good reasons. It stays much smaller than the Common Pleco but it is just as good at eating algae. Their faces are much more interesting to look at, thanks to their bushy whiskers.
They come in albino and long-finned breeds. And when well cared for, you even have a good chance of breeding a Bushy Nose Pleco pair. Thanks to their many positive qualities, they are well worth a place in your fish tank.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions about the Bristlenose pleco:
How Long Do Brislenose Plecos Live?
Bristlenose plecos usually live about 10-15 years in captivity when kept in proper conditions.
How Big do Bristlenose Plecos Get?
They generally grow to 4-6 inches, however, there are rare reports of Bristlenoses growing to 8″.
Can I Keep a Bristlenose Pleco in a 10 Gallon Tank?
We do not recommend keeping Bristlenose Plecos in 10-gallon tanks. They require a minimum tank size of 20 gallons to thrive.
Are Bristlenose Plecos Aggressive?
The Bristlenose Pleco is not an aggressive species. But males will often fight with each other over mates. For this reason, we recommend keeping only one male per tank.
How Long Can a Pleco Go Without Eating?
Plecos have a unique advantage over other fish in that algae and driftwood are a large piece of their diet. This is stuff that is naturally occurring in most tanks, so in the absence of food, they will often eat algae.
For this reason, a Bristlenose pleco can go up to a week without feeding.
However, we always recommend feeding you Bristlenose a consistent and regular diet.
When do Bristlenose Plecos Start Getting Their Bristles?
Male Bristlenoses will usually start growing their bristles around 6 months of age. Females can grow bristles too, although they are much less prominent.
Do Bristlenose Plecos Eat Plants?
Bristlesnose Plecos do not eat plants. They will often eat algae and film that grows on the leaves of aquatic plants. But you usually won’t have to worry about them eating your aquarium plants.
