Travis Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I was watching a video recently in which info about Bristlenose Plecos came up and it was mentioned that they are notorious for eating sword plants even if fed well. I was considering adding some to my current planted tank however I have 2 well established compact Amazon swords. What is your experience with the Bristlenose Pleco? Have you ever heard this before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eclipse Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I've heard of this and seen plenty of images and videos online about it. They really do destroy swords sometimes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I have 3 tanks with bristle nose and common plecos with swords and see no sign at all of them touching any of them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sykes Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Likewise, I have 2 tanks with both bristlenose and swords in them and both continue to look healthy. I have heard of them being devastating for some folks though. Maybe give it a try but have a backup plan (i.e. another tank you can move the plecos to) in case you start seeing thinning on the leaves? I don't believe they actually eat the leaves, but the leaves can get damaged as they attach to it and eat whatever's growing on the leaves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I was just thinking this over and come to think of it my plecos won't even mess with yellowed or dreads leaves they leave it all to the mystery snails. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy's Fish Den Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 I have heard this from people before and had never had any issues in my tanks. However, at my last fish club meeting before the pandemic set it, I won a Kleiner prinz sword in the raffle, and put it in my leopoldi angelfish tank, which also has a couple bristlenose plecos. I noticed one day a couple leaves that looked chewed up, and one of the BN sitting on one. Within another day or so, they had it chewed down to just a couple small nubs above the crown, so I pulled it out and put it into another tank that has no plecos, and it has slowly recovered. The leopoldi angelfish tank has a red melon sword in it and there are no issues with it. So, my conclusion is that it may just be certain species of swordplants they find tastier. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 That makes a lot of sense. Might be a missing part of their diet too? Maybe the more complete pleco waffers are enough to keep them away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Ed's Aquatics Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I have heard that this is a problem for bristlenose, but I have 3 kinds of bristlenose in different tanks and each tank has at least 2 kinds of swords and I have never seen anything like that before. Much like the other reply, mine won't even eat the dying leaves. They let the snails eat them. I think it's situational as not everyone has the same issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yannachka Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 my plecos are so spoiled they don't even bother to eat any algae, that goes for all three bristlenose plecos and the rubberlip. i have never seen them touch my swords or any plants for that matter. maybe it is caused by nutrient deficiency? it would be really cool for people who have this issue to post what they are feeding the plecos, maybe something lacking in the diet triggers it. in my experience lack of protein in a bristlenose's diet as it ages is what tends to cause it to go after goldfish slime coats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy's Fish Den Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 I feed my bristlenose plecos a variety of food. they get pleco/ spirulina wafers or sticks, canned green beans, cucumbers, zucchini. Plus they eat on the foods that I feed the rest of the tank, including the sinking pellets and sticks for the corydoras in the tanks. LL mine get the same foods, and never had any issues except for the one type of sword plants that I described above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 My BN hide in the Amazon Sword leaves, but no issues with them munching on the leaves. Interesting that some varieties are vulnerable. I don’t even know what kind of swords I have in my tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted September 13, 2020 Author Share Posted September 13, 2020 (edited) Thank you for the input everyone! I was at my LFS today and the sight of a tank full of albino longfin bristlenose made my decision for me...worth the risk! Also while it was checking its new tank out it bumped a Galaxy Rasbora fry out into the open which is the first time I have bred that species! All in all a pretty great discovery. Edited September 13, 2020 by Travis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Ellison Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 My BN are my wife's fav so they are quite baby'd as well. I have been using bug bites waffers as well as hakari. I'm thinking when they get closer to breeding age going to the serra brand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShySnail Posted September 13, 2020 Share Posted September 13, 2020 When I had BNs years ago they would munch on the swords from time to time, but they never caused any significant damage. Plus, they're more than cute enough to make up for any damage they might cause! Congrats on your new BN - and the galaxy rasbora fry! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BertSmith Posted March 19, 2021 Share Posted March 19, 2021 That's funny, I was just Googling "Do plecos eat Amazon swords?" because in my world they're Pleco Lettuce! I have one pleco, but he's big, at least 8 inches long. I just added two big clumps of $14.99 swords last week, they always look great when they first go in. I can't figure out how to add a picture to this post, but on one plant, two of the leaves are down to the base stalk. And I give him two premium wafers every day, at least! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted March 20, 2021 Share Posted March 20, 2021 (edited) For an 8in pleco I don't think your feeding enough that's why there are eating your plants do you only feed wafers if so I would recommend feeding cucumber blanched spinach and lettuce or kale @BertSmith Edited March 20, 2021 by Colu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bev C Posted March 4, 2022 Share Posted March 4, 2022 (edited) I have had trouble with pelcos and plants my first pelco was a regular common one i went and planted all new real plants he ate everything ,, he was was feed real good variety of food and real vegetables 2-3 weeks ,, so i used fake plants 14 years till he died ,, i replaced him with a smaller one bristolnose ,,, like my first he is feed really well since he was new i bought 5 cheap real plants to test him java fern , anbuis , and etc. he left everything alone i read about the swords and pelco so i tested him i bought a amazon sword ,, he still left all the plants alone but ate the amazon sword so i stay away from swords even though i think they are beautiful but at least i am trying to have a planted tank now except the swords if i get a new bristolnose later i will have to test him too maybe you can test him like i did with a cheap sword that if he eats it you did not have much $ in it Best wishes with the pelco Edited March 4, 2022 by Bev C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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