Joined
·
1,427 Posts
Great question, I've no clue but now I'm intrigued... It's not likely "bait" like latern fish because algae needs no bait. They're not prehensile as far as I can tell, so physical advantage isn't likely.
I would guess either sensory or mating reasons. I've read on pleco forums that the size of the bristles waxes and wanes in varying water conditions. The same pleco in poor water will have weak thin bristles, put him in some high quality H2O and they thicken up over time. Put the same pleco back in poor water and they dwindle back down. Water optimal for breeding is also optimal for bristle growth which makes me want to think it's a breeding thing, but not certain by any means. Hopefully some biology folks know what's up on this.
I would guess either sensory or mating reasons. I've read on pleco forums that the size of the bristles waxes and wanes in varying water conditions. The same pleco in poor water will have weak thin bristles, put him in some high quality H2O and they thicken up over time. Put the same pleco back in poor water and they dwindle back down. Water optimal for breeding is also optimal for bristle growth which makes me want to think it's a breeding thing, but not certain by any means. Hopefully some biology folks know what's up on this.
