sexing ancistrus

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 27 Jun 2003, 20:36

How soon can I see a difference between male/female ancistrus? I've got a fullgrown bristlenose that the LFS said was a female and it has very small bristles on its snout. I also have an inch long juvenile which I'd like to know the sex of. It was one of the larger fish in the tank so I'm hoping that they were all from the same spawning and that I've got a male. I think I read a thread stating that males grow faster but I could very well be wrong. Any thoughts?

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 27 Jun 2003, 22:19

Hi!

You should be able to sex an Ancistrus at the size of about 4-5cm...
Cheers
Yann

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 28 Jun 2003, 09:26

Thanks,

I'm not quite sure I know exactly how to sex them though. Is it just the bristles?

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 28 Jun 2003, 14:01

Hi!

At this young stage the one who develop bristle are for sure males!!!
Cheers
Yann

Post by **Barbie** » 28 Jun 2003, 16:00

Female bristlenose do develop bristles on their lips, but only males will develop them in a stripe up the center of their face and between their eyes. It makes it easy to tell at a pretty young age. Usually 2 inches or before. Hope that helps

Barbie

Andy · Post by **Andy** » 28 Jun 2003, 23:25

Thanks everybody! That's cleared it up quite a bit: