bristlenose pleco breeding and growth

[mvh pets]

hi!

i got a 1.5 inch pleco around 3 months ago  and will get 3 more of the same size soon. 

any idea how long it will take for them to start breeding/ achieve maximum size?

thanks! 

[Fish Folk]

2 hours ago, mvh pets said:

hi!

i got a 1.5 inch pleco around 3 months ago  and will get 3 more of the same size soon. 

any idea how long it will take for them to start breeding/ achieve maximum size?

thanks! 

Unfortunately, BNPs take a long while to mature into breeding shape. We have had to wait years at a time when that size. A fully mature specimen can reach approximately 4-inches. Males grow a remarkable copule - horn-like-growth on the nose (hence "Bristlenose" or "Bushynose") - and Females develop significant girth when full of eggs. Much depends on how much you feed and clean up after them. High feeding + High maintenance always promotes faster growth. Slightly warmer temperatures can also promote growth. 

[lefty o]

i agree, seems they need to be pretty much full grown which can take a long time.