L200 and bristlenose

MyraVan · Post by **MyraVan** » 13 Nov 2007, 11:10

I have a 220 liter tank, 100cm x 40cm x 70cm (er I think that's 40" long and 15" front to back). It's got lots of plants and three pieces of bogwood. I have had a bristlenose in there since about March and I've loved watching him grow. He does grow fast, I think he's about 3.5" long now (and I do think it's a he as he's got bristles about 4mm long now). His name is Sebo so I will call him that since it's shorter than "the bristlenose pleco".

So everything was fine, until I saw these L200s in my local shop. And they were just beautiful. So I debated alot, posted in my usual forums to ask if it would be a good addition to my tank. I got confirmation that it should be OK (they said there would probably be some aggression to start with, but when they sorted out their territories it would be all right) so I got the L200.

The new fish (not sure of sex or even exact species, the B. demantoides and H. subviridis look too similar to me) is about 2.5" long. Well, Sebo doesn't like his new tankmate. Most of the time he leaves the L200 alone, but occasioanlly he sidles over the him and jumps on him and chases him. The L200 doens't seem to have sustained any damage, but what worries me is that I don't see him eating. Even when I put bottomfeeder food in both ends of the tank at once, so the L200 could feed a decent distance from Sebo, he still remains stuck to the glass, ignoring the food. His belly still looks OK, not sunken, but I only got him on Friday, and maybe he's feeding from the glass (although there isn't much algae on the glass, thanks to good old Sebo).

So I'm looking for advice. Is there anything I can add to the tank that will make the L200 feel at home? Is there any way or anything I can feed that will tempt him off the glass and let him have a good feed? Or will I have to remove one of them from the tank (which will mean giving it away or taking it back to the shop as I don't have space to hold another pleco).

muddyriverdogz · Post by **muddyriverdogz** » 13 Dec 2007, 21:35

I just bought 3 green phantoms 24 hours ago.None of them have fead or even hardly moved yet.I also have a bristle nose but he is smaller.I havent had any problems with them fighting at all.But still am worried about the greens Not eating.

I will get back with you

Matien · Post by **Matien** » 13 Dec 2007, 23:00

Hi,

It is normal that your L200 is dominated by the bristlenose. It is is a matter of size and territory :
Your BN believes the whole tank is its territory, and the L200 is still too small to be able to face the BN.

I had a quite similar situation, with a L200 which was a bit bigger. It changed when the L200 was bigger than the BN.

It may be able to eat some time to times, but you have to check it. Courgettes may help.

But to improve the territory situation, I think you have 2 options there :
- modify the layout of your tank, to create new hidden place, and allow the L200 to be hidden from your BN
- try to remove the BN for a couple of day, in order to let the L200 find its marks and create its own territory.

Good luck
Matien