Is this really a bristlenose???

**Tobinkinz** · 01-12-2013, 11:53 AM

Hey all,

We got this fish about a month ago, he was labeled in the fish store as a long fin bristlenose pleco. So far he seems to be doing well, has grown quite a bit! But, he has no bristles.....is this a maturity thing? Or did I get swindled? Here's some pics.

Thx!

Sabra

**bignellm** · 01-12-2013, 12:01 PM

It's a maturity thing. Also maybe a male or female thing.
How long is this one?
Mine started showing maturity at 2-3"

**chrisfraser05** · 01-12-2013, 01:01 PM

that doesn't look like a bristlenose to me to be honest.

The fin on the back looks too big imo

I'd going with a larger breed of some kind

**Brhino** · 01-12-2013, 02:07 PM

looks like a bristlenose to me, maybe with a bit of the longfin breeding.

**Goes to 11!** · 01-12-2013, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by bignellm

It's a maturity thing. Also maybe a male or female thing.

Mine started showing maturity at 2-3"

+1 to the maturity/size, Mine started showing at about that same size.

**SueD** · 01-12-2013, 04:34 PM

Most likely a female. I have 2 females with no bristles and 2 males with wonderful bristles (all in different tanks).

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-12-2013, 04:46 PM

I thought they all had bristles but the female is smaller and has shorter bristles. I have 3......all the same size, tho, but one has bristles just a little bit shorter. Who knows? Maybe they're all males since I've never had any babies. I thought they all had bristles when they were small but now I can't remember. They were very small when I got them.