Sexing the Bristlenose Catfish: The bristle growth is a lot less developed in the females and often does not develop at all.

The males are the only sex to sometimes develop branched bristles which end in a fork.

Once these growths have developed the catfish has attained sexual maturity. Males grow faster and longer in length while females are wider in the body.
In the Peppermint variety the males can become quite aggressive toward fish much larger than itself. Girls are often plumper behind the pectorals particularly when viewed from above.

Keeping them Happy

Water - pH 6-7.8 medium soft water or adapt to harder water

Temperature - 16-2SoC (Best at mid 20's ) Bristlenose often do not breed in warmer temperatures.

Feeding: In the aquarium a Bristlenose catfish's diet should be made up mainly of green food based preparations such as spirrhulina algae discs and prepared green vegetables. Cucumber, zucchini, boiled pumpkin and squashed peas are all accepted. Weekly feedings of Protein or Shrimp pellets, and frozen Brine Shrimp or Pea and Prawn are a nice addition and the catfish love them. Some information suggests that to maintain a healthy digestive system Bristlenose catfish also require a piece of wood to chew on.

Aquarium: Tank size from 2ft to large

Hiding Places: Bristlenose love logs, pottery and driftwood for hiding and breeding.
A few shops sell clay Bristlenose logs

How to get little Bristlenose

Well, when two Bristlenose love each other very much . . . . . . .

If you provide food and good water quality (some people say bad is even better) and regular water changes they pretty much breed like rabbits!

Simulating a wet season is a documented way of inducing them to spawn.
Slow down your water changes say to every month for 3 months and then do some large water changes 50%. This can make the fish think there is a rainy season happening which is what would trigger them in the wild.

Breeding occurs when the water temperature is dropped to mimic autumn weather conditions. The male by then will have chosen a hollow in a log or other cavity.

Spawning begins if the female is ripe and finds a male and cave she finds suitable.
They are even known to spawn behind fish filters when no more suitable site is available. There is some territorial behaviour between males at breeding time but injuries are infrequent.

The eggs take around 5- 7 days to hatch. The Bristlenose catfish fry will survive from absorbing the egg sac for the first few days. After this, algae covered objects can be added to the aquarium or the young fish can be introduced to a dry spirulina food if this is impractical. Very regular water changes and a varied diet encourage good growth rates.

The fry are normally free-swimming in ]4 days. Young fry are very susceptible to poor water quality. Please note Longfin and Albinos are easy to breed as Common Bristlenose however Peppermints are reputed to be more difficult to induce to spawn.

Note: try telling that to Hounslow's Peter Quested who's ankle deep in
        Ancistrus hoplogenys as well as the Golden variety!