Loaches Online Forum

My bristlenose pleco in my 33 gallon tank has theese irregular light brown stripes on her. when you look at her on the glass straight up and down, she has horizontal bars. What does this mean?

Could you post a picture? I imagine it is coloration. My male BN has a butterfly shape on his back made by small white spots. Very pretty.

I have no idea what it is. They were gone about an hour ago...now they are back.

Is it food traveling through the body? Is it on the surface of the body, internal, . . . ?

Surface...it is her scales.

Maybe she's scraping scales on algae or something.

I don't have any. All of the plants are betta safe, so I dont think its them. Could it have anything to do with breding?

I am clueless.

Alright...Thanks for your help!

I've seen this. It seems to be normal? At least, mine haven't died yet. (They're happy, I swear!)

I had 3 bn, I noticed that they all started to turn a light brown. Beopfore I could act they were all dead within a few days of each other! Not saying its exactly the same thing but keep an eye on them.

Wow, I can't believe no one else has seen this. It's like a lighter colored, wide banding will appear at times and then disappear... depending on fish's mood? I have no idea why. I've raised a couple generations of BNs and they have been doing it all their lives, but seem to be healthy...

could they be stess related. I have seen this on photos of stressed plecs. As they chill out , the markings go away. My common had them sometimes. Not sure same as your bn problem, just a thought. G

Had same fears with our BN; with enough questions and research realized that they change color / patterns sometimes....it scares me still!
Anyway, don't fret, it's just like a mood ring....I think

It is weird! She goes from stripes to patches and then nothing!