[GCNZ]

I have a 15 gallon planted tank which I set up about 4 months ago, the first fish to go in the tank were 8 neon tetras, followed by a small female bristlenose catfish, 2 weeks after adding the bristlenose I decided to get a male to keep her company, knowing I would soon be upgrading to a larger tank. since day one of introducing the male bristlenose the female has been extremely aggressive towards the male, if she gets sight of him she will chase him around the tank, away from food etc.
It's been afew months now and the fish all seem healthy but the female is still aggressive towards the male, and she is growing at a faster rate than him probably because she is dominant over the food.

Has anybody got an explanation for this bahaviour? The only thing I can think of is not enough room for 2 of them in a small tank, there is plenty of driftwood and plants, but maybe the female thinks she rules the place since she was there first...

I have now setup a 40 gallon tank and have transferred the male into this tank on his own so he can get some confidence back and get a good feed all to himself to try put on a bit of size before I introduce the female and the neon tetras to the tank with him.
Hopefully the female will leave him alone this time since they have alot more room now...

 

[tankman12]

Could u post a pic of the "small female bristlenose"?
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[GCNZ]

I will try get a photo tonight, they are pretty shy when you get really close to the tank

 

[tankman12]

Mine dont even hide that much anymore. I got 3 1m/2f in my 29 heavily planted. There out all the time. They usually should not be aggressive, unless breeding. But to males will fight. Especially in a small tank. Im thinking that you have to males. But you could also have an territorial female. Idk for sure. Only some pics will allow me to find out the genders.
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[GCNZ]

Its proving near impossible to get a close up pick of the catfish... but here is a pic I took not long after getting it... hope it helps, there are no bristles on her nose either...

 

[tankman12]

That doesnt really look like bristlenose pleco. But there are many different patterns. So i wouldnt doubt it. It does look like a female. I would move both of them into the 40.
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[lilnaugrim]

Looks like a BN to me.

I find that BN's can become aggressive if they aren't getting enough to eat, but sounds like she's just territorial which I also find is pretty normal. I wouldn't worry about it much if he's getting enough to eat too. Or you can take her out and rearrange things so she doesn't have a territory anymore and see if that helps when you reintroduce her.

Also, BN's don't get their bristles until around 4 inches so you could potentially have two males in the end.

 

[tankman12]

I have a male that had a couple bristles at 1 1/2in. That is why I got him. Cuz i needed a male. But it could be a late bloomer. So you never know. Also the pattern looks a little more like a clown. But Im not saying it isnt a bristlenose.
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[lilnaugrim]

Look up green dragon BN pleco.

Clowns have definitive stripes, this one does not.

 

[tankman12]

Ya it does look like a green dragon. I would put them in the 40 together. If there is still problems, separate them till they are full grown and see what the genders are. Of trade in the aggressive "female" for another one that you think is a female.
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[GCNZ]

Thanks for the replies guys. she is probably twice the size now that she was in that pic, and still definately no bristles. And the one I think is a male had 3 or 4 bristles when he was small like you mentioned tankman, Although the male is a darker colour than the female so he may be a different variation to her...

The 40g has only been cycling for a week but I've been doing daily water changes as it's a dirted tank. It has an old cycled filter on it aswell as the new one and also some plants in there already too, The male has been in there about 3 days now and seems happy so I may introduce the rest of the fish this weekend and see how they go

 

[tankman12]

Good luck!
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[GCNZ]

Well after another water change in the 40g I have transferred the 8 neons in with the male, all fish seem happy. I moved the driftwood around a bit too so I think I will give the male BN a bit more time to make himself at home before I introduce the female, I will transfer her into the tank along with the driftwood that she currently calls home so hopefully this will seperate the territory between the two fish...

 

[tankman12]

Hopefully it will all work out.
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[GCNZ]

Well they've been in the new tank a few days now and the female is still the boss... Any sight of the male and she chases him away, and any sight of her and he will run, he's definately scared of her. I could isolate her for awhile by herself in the old tank but i'm not sure this will do anything for the situation... Should I look for a replacement BN?

 

[tankman12]

Yes I would there is obviously something wrong with the female.
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[lilnaugrim]

There isn't something 'wrong' with her, she's just aggressive is all. Some fish are and some fish aren't. I personally wouldn't worry about it since she isn't attacking him, as long as he's still getting food he'll be fine until he's more comfortable.

 

[tankman12]

I would definitely get rid of it. When i added mine nothing like this happened. Plus you dont know if this will ever stop. Just trade her in for another female.
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[lilnaugrim]

Idk, I've had females and they've all been more aggressive than my males.

 

[tankman12]

Mine never were. Also where your females THIS aggressive?
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