sexing bristlenoses

[ken 429]

is there any other way to sex them besides the bristles on their head?

 

[Lutt]

a pic would help. Ancistrus is really easy to see what sexing is....

 

[davo]

Depending on the species yes, but not a lot if any. What species do you have? In some species, the bristles are found on both male and females, but on females the bristles are usually just around the "lip" or head edge of the pleco and will generally not have as many as a male does. Males have the bristles all over the top of the head too, which if females have, is far smaller and to a much lesser extent. Some adult females can look like sub-adult males.

There are also little things like with Ancistrus Claro it is said that mature females have a darker base coloration, and the vermiform lines are found predominantly on males. Sometimes people say the shape and total size may also differ slightly between genders. To be honest though the sexing by head tentacles is your best bet.

Heres a link to somehelp too http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=583381&postcount=5

 

[ken 429]

thanks for the help will get some pics

 

[Bogwoodbruce]

Males usuallly have a thinner head i've found with my group, and the females are a bit chunkier.

 

[gomezladdams]

My females have a squarer body