Bristlenose Pleco

Bristlenose Pleco for Sale: Buy Live Bristlenose Plecos Online

Shop our Bristlenose Pleco for sale and buy the best small algae eater for almost any freshwater aquarium. When you order online from Aquarium Live Fish Store you get a lively, healthy young Ancistrus pleco in the color and size you choose, packed with care and shipped to your door. Bristlenose Plecos stay around 4 to 5 inches, graze algae all day and never outgrow a typical community tank, which makes them a smarter pick than a giant Common Pleco for most hobbyists. Find more armored bottom dwellers in our pleco collection.

Bristlenose Pleco Varieties and Sizes

Choose from five popular color and fin forms and two juvenile sizes. Males develop the bushy tentacles on the snout as they mature, while females keep a smaller set of bristles along the edge of the face.

• Size: Small (1-2″), Medium (2-3″)
• Variety: Common Brown, Albino, Super Red, Longfin, Blue-Eye Lemon

Quick Facts

• Scientific name: Ancistrus sp.
• Adult size: 4-5 inches
• Minimum tank: 15-29 gallons
• Temperament: Peaceful
• Care level: Beginner
• Water parameters: 72-82°F, pH 5.5-7.5
• Diet: Herbivore: algae, sinking algae wafers and blanched vegetables

Care and Tank Setup

A 15 to 29 gallon tank is enough for one Bristlenose, with larger tanks for groups. Keep the water at 72 to 82°F and a pH of 5.5 to 7.5 with gentle to moderate flow. Add a piece of real driftwood, which they rasp for fiber, plus caves or hollow decor where they can hide during the day. Algae alone is not a complete diet, so feed sinking algae wafers and blanched vegetables such as zucchini, cucumber and green beans, with an occasional meaty treat. Good filtration and regular water changes keep them active and healthy.

Tank Mates

Bristlenose Plecos are peaceful and fit into almost any community. They do well with tetras, rasboras, livebearers, gouramis and bottom dwellers like the Panda Cory. They can also share a planted tank with a small group of Twig Catfish. If you want a show pleco next to them, look at our Super Red L-144 Bushynose Pleco or the Lemon Blue Eye Bushynose Pleco, and give each male its own cave to reduce squabbles.

Why Buy Your Bristlenose Pleco From Aquarium Live Fish Store

Every fish we sell is healthy, acclimated stock that we watch and feed before it leaves our facility. We pack each order with care, using oxygenated bags and insulated boxes, and ship it to your door so it is ready to go into your aquarium.

Need more cleanup help? Browse more algae eaters or shop all freshwater fish online.