Green Dragon Bushynose

Remarks:  Green dragon bushynose plecos are an uncommon and newer color variant of the ever popular common bushynose pleco. Rather than the typical dark brown, they tend to have a more olive coloration that darkens with age. Some fish will get a white edge to their fins though it usually is only present when the fish is young. The green dragon variant was produced by Greg Sage from an oddball pair of bushynose plecos he received after they had changed hands multiple times. This has caused it to be unknown and unsure as to whether hybridization or selective breeding was used to produce the original pair.   Bushynose, or bristlenose plecos, belong to the genus Ancistrus but their exact species is unknown. The common bushynose plecos you see available today are likely line-bred from A. cirrhosus, but there is a chance hybridization with other Ancistrus species occurred at some point. Their common name is derived from the long and elaborate tentacles that develop on the faces of males. The bigger the "beard" as some call it, the more dominant the male. Females will occasionally develop bristles as well along the edges of their face making it difficult to differentiate young males from females. These bristles are tempting for nippy and aggressive fish so this combined with bushynose plecos not having much armor compared to other species is why they should not be housed with nippy or aggressive fish. The pleco itself can pose a danger in the case of fish trying to swallow them as they have spines on their fins that they will flare out if being attacked to prevent the fish from eating them. This can result in the fish choking and the loss of both it and the pleco if the pleco remains stuck in the mouth of the fish.     Bushynose plecos do not grow very large and are mostly peaceful so they can fit in well in smaller aquariums. Typically, the only aggression shown tends to be among males fighting over spawning caves. They can be kept with shrimp if the population has been given plenty of time to grow and begin reproducing regularly as the bushynose pleco will prey on them occasionally. While they are omnivores, they prefer to have a diet consisting mostly of vegetable matter and will voraciously feed on algae. Their appetite for algae does not diminish as they grow like in the case of common plecos making them an excellent addition to the cleanup crew in a tank. Typically, plants will not be eaten unless the pleco is starving or the plant is already dying.   Bushynose plecos come in a variety of color forms that have been selectively bred for such as green, blue eye lemon, albino, super red, calico, and even a long-finned variant. They do best when kept in soft, acidic water free of pollutants but are not as picky about this compared to other species. Due to how long this pleco has been bred in captivity, they have become extremely hardy and very prolific making them an excellent choice for both beginner and experienced aquarists alike.   Breeding bushynose plecos can be very easy so long as all their needs are attended to and spawning sites are provided. Bushynose plecos are cave spawners where males will choose a small cave where he will chase females into to spawn. Once the female has laid eggs, it will be left up to the male to guard the cave and keep the eggs clean as the female leaves. They fan the eggs with their fins to keep fresh water flowing over them to help prevent them from fungusing and ensuring they get plenty of oxygen. Once the eggs hatch, the male will keep the fry inside the cave until they have absorbed their yolk sack and have become free swimming. This high level of parental care is fascinating to watch and is also why it is usually best to leave the eggs with the father to care for rather than removing them.