Bushy Nose Pleco

[ringfinger]

I bought one the other day from the LFS because my Spotted Sailfin sure isn't going to fit my 29 forever. Anyways, the little guy is only about 1" long at the moment. I noticed this morning that he doesn't really have a bushy nose like adults do in pictures I have seen. He does however have a kinda flat head and the same kinda eyes as I have seen in other Bushy Nose Plecos. Do they grow the little whiskers later?

 

[Jchillin]

Absolutely, with age comes the whiskers. Often females won't have any or they will be very slight.

 

[Fishyfanatic]

Agreed. Our BN pleco does not have whiskers.

 

[SerLunchbox]

Female BN plecos often do not have any bristles on the front of thier face. Though it is possible for them to have some, they are often subdued and very unnoticealbe.

Males will start off growing thier bristles at about 2" of length. This is only a rough estimate as all the fish grow at different rates and reach maturity at different times.

Though with yours, at 1" it is most likely too juvenile to properly sex the fish.