Sold as BNs... would like a 2nd opinion

[ahodge84]

I found some BNs on for sale a local pet shop today and got three of them. They were cheap, and since I've never bought them before and they are really small, so I just want to make sure they are really BNs. I've checked some pictures online and think that I did end up with BNs. I greatly appreciate any helpful input.

[Marc van Arc]

so I just want to make sure they are really BNs.

I think they are.

[Mike_Noren]

Yes, Common Bristlenoses.

[andywoolloo]

yes, very cool!

[ahodge84]

Most excellent! Thanks for the help, guys. It's probably the best deal I have ever gotten fish-wise: $10 for all 3

Just one more question... these guys are about 1" SL right now. Any idea at what size the males might start to mature (and therefore be identifiable)?

[apistomaster]

I have had 2-1/2", 8 month old specimens spawn, and spawn and spawn,
Once they get started they rarely stop. Guppyostomus.

[ahodge84]

I have had 2-1/2", 8 month old specimens spawn, and spawn and spawn,
Once they get started they rarely stop. Guppyostomus.

They seem to be in short supply in my local fish and pet places, so I should have an outlet for them if they go at it like rabbits. That is, if I did put a male and female in my tank. And they find a place to spawn - maybe I will add something specifically for them...

[hotsauce48]

I think they are.BN's come in several colors from brown-green,black and in some cases yellow and I've seen some mixes.

[MatsP]

And these ones are, as Mike says, almost certainly the common

Ancistrus cf_cirrhosus

.

--
Mats

[hotsauce48]

I think I changed my mind,it might be a Starlight Bristlenose Pleco .

[MatsP]

I think I changed my mind,it might be a Starlight Bristlenose pl*co .

Again, if you disagree with the identification, please provide your basis for such a disagreement.

Starlight bristlenose

Ancistrus punctatus

I'd say it isn't. It should be inky black with small white spots of the same size across the body. The fish in the pictures is not black, it is dark gray/brown, nor does it have small or white spots, and the spots are larger at the back than at the front. All of the signs are that it is the common bristlenose.

I understand that you are young and enthusiastic - but constantly coming up with "I think it may be ..." is not really helping unless you are actually providing a good identification to the original poster. And in a case where you disagree, as I said, it is often helpful to explain WHY you disagree - it provides two things:
1. Evidence for the original poster to compare his/her fish with - for example, if you say "I think it is X because the fish in the picture has Y on the Z", then the original poster can say "Yes, that's right" or "No, that's not the fish, it's a piece of gravel/wood/another fish" or whatever is appropriate.
2. Shows that you have understood the difference between the fish in the Cat-eLog.

--
Mats

[Jools]

hotsauce48,

Just to add to Mats very patient comments, please don't post misinformation or trivial posts. If you continue to do so, we'll need to start issuing warnings and the last thing we do to do is to ban you - but you are breaking the rules. Please help us by taking notice of this request!

Jools