Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => General Fishkeeping advice => Topic started by: lovefish54 on June 07, 2019, 11:32:36 AM

Title: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: lovefish54 on June 07, 2019, 11:32:36 AM

Hi can anyone tell me the best wood to get for bristle nose Plecos I’m confused between big wood driftwood and think it mopani or something like that.  Thanks

Title: Re: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: fcmf on June 07, 2019, 08:30:39 PM

I'm not au fait with which woods are better than others, other than that it has to be a wood suitable for aquariums. @Littlefish and @Helen have bristlenose plecs, so they may know better.

However, having done a quick search elsewhere, one of the respondents has suggested that Malaysian driftwood is best, that Mopani is too hard, grape vines are messy and are intended for reptiles, while the branches of spider wood and manzanita and mangrove are too thin to provide sufficient cover. These might be helpful to browse: https://www.aquariumgardens.co.uk/aquascaping-wood-100-c.asp and https://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/aquarium-wood-c-545_11_238.html?zenid=pbc7e2237rdv6t2u8213l2h387

Title: Re: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: Hampalong on June 07, 2019, 11:58:38 PM

Test it with your thumbnail. If it’s slightly soft then it’s easy for a plec to rasp at. If it’s rock hard like mopani it’s not so good.

Title: Re: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: Littlefish on June 08, 2019, 07:53:46 AM

I have a combination of driftwood and mopani in the current tanks that contain BNs. I will admit that the mopani has been in the tanks for a couple of years, so is softer than it used to be. It is also slightly softer on the darker/rougher side than the lighter/smoother side (if you know what I mean), and I've seen my BNs grazing on all the wood in the tank.

Title: Re: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: jaypeecee on June 08, 2019, 10:21:18 AM

Hi littlefish,

I checked out the following as it is considered to be one of the foremost resources for fish:

https://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/ancistrus-cf-cirrhosus/

To my great surprise, there is no mention of wood in the Diet section! So, I then looked at:

https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=49

In the Husbandry > Feeding section, it makes reference to lignin. This is sometimes an ingredient of specialized fish foods. In my tanks, I use Gamma NutraPellets FW and this contains lignin. No doubt there are other products out there that also incorporate this ingredient but the Gamma stuff seems to do the job. I also have bogwood, which is very hard and driftwood, which is softer. Although I currently don't have any Ancistrus in my tanks, I do have a Clown Plec. I have never seen this fish on the bogwood but s/he grazes on the driftwood.

JPC

Title: Re: BN Plecos wood help - Best wood for BN plecs
Post by: Littlefish on June 08, 2019, 08:10:45 PM

Hi JPC,

I'm a big fan of both sites you've noted. I think this is a good example of why it's good to research thoroughly, use multiple sources, and get advice from experienced keepers on forums such as this one.  :)

I have not used the Gamma products, but do use the Repashy Morning Wood for the BNs and bulldog plecs. I also have the Soilent Green and Bottom Scratcher.