Actually, The bristlenose is just another variety of a pleco. Its still a pleco. The regular plecos come it many different sizes/colorations/patterns. Bristlenose plecos grow "tenticle/bristly" things on their upper lip and most males all over thier nose region. The females have barely any bristles and the males have alot. You will be able to tell the difference. Normal plecos don't have any bristles at all on thier lips/noses. Bristlenose plecos also stay smaller for the most part than regular plecos. What kind of bristlenose pleco did you get? There are a few varieties that I know of, but the more common ones would include the regular brown ones, albino ones, and dwarf bristlenoses.
HTH
-Stewie
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