Geophagus and Bristlenose behaviour

[Irmscher2007]

Hello

I have a 5 X Geophagus Redheads and a small Bristlenose Pleco.

One of the smaller Geos has been displaying some strange behaviour where it will nuzzle upto the Bristlenose at the bottom of the tank and stay still as though he is asking/encouraging he Bristlenose to start sucking on the side of him.

After a while the Bristlenose will turn and go onto the side of the Geo, for a second or less, and the Geo spins off the Bristlenose with ease, but then will return to do the same a short time later.

The Geo seems healthy, no signs of any disease such as ich etc.

I'm not overly worried at this stage as the Geo can clearly get off the Bristlenose easily. Hopefully he isn't getting enough purchase on the Geo to remove any slime.

Just wondering if anyone has seen this before.

 

[tlindsey]

One of the smaller Geos has been displaying some strange behaviour where it will nuzzle upto the Bristlenose at the bottom of the tank and stay still as though he is asking/encouraging he Bristlenose to start sucking on the

That's normally not good when a pleco is sucking off a fish. What are you feeding the Bristlenose?

 

[1 2many]

+1 what are you feeding? And what size tank are they in? Could be fighting over territory.

 

[Irmscher2007]

He's being fed all-sorts of veg.

Romanian lettuce, courgettes (zucchini), pleco wafers at night when the lights are off.

He definitely growing in size so I don't think he is going hungry.

The curious thing is the Geo is literally encouraging him to do it. It's not like the Bristlenose is chasing it around to get on it.

He doesn't do it to any others either, or even try to.

Dave

 

[tlindsey]

He's being fed all-sorts of veg.

Romanian lettuce, courgettes (zucchini), pleco wafers at night when the lights are off.

He definitely growing in size so I don't think he is going hungry.

The curious thing is the Geo is literally encouraging him to do it. It's not like the Bristlenose is chasing it around to get on it.

He doesn't do it to any others either, or even try to.

Dave

Welcome aboard
Great the pleco has good foodsto eat.