Big Undertaking?

[wana_be_breeder]

Hi all

I am a Kiwi who is in love with fish
I started out the hobby with a breeding trio of Bristle Nose Plecos, I have bread and reared them successfully so far. Now sadly I traded them for a tank. This is what I have got in what tank...

4ft tank
7x L144 (2 Large) (5 small)
2x Platinum Angels (Large)
3x Black Swords (3 Large)
2x EVIL Convicts (Breeding)
1x Red-Tailed Shark (Small)

2ft tank
3x Julidochromis transcriptus (I think 1Female and 2Males)

What I want to do is this ->

4ft tank
EVERY fish gone, the L144 will go into a 40-50liter tank where I want to breed the two large adults. The other fish will go back to the store.
3x L255 (trio) and 3x L271 (possible pair) I would love the L255 to breed, I have the tank half filled with water so that there is a good current. Will it and can it be done.
Add 20 guppies to the tank. These guppies are a bran new strain that has just been created.

 

[Bloo]

In my opinion, you should not keep the L255 & L271 in the same thank.
Their requirements (dietary especially) are quite different and you (they) may well run into trouble (health problems) if kept together.

L255 will require high protein
L271 will require wood and high veg (little to no protein)

Good luck though - I've yet to see a report of L255 breeding in captivity

Ps: The guppies should be fine but may not like the additional current you'll have to add for the L255's if you want to attempt breeding.

 

[wana_be_breeder]

Thanks Bloo.

So I need to be looking at separate tanks. The L271 are 5-6cm each, would I be able to keep them in a standard 2ft tank, until they grow bigger? Panaques are slow growers so it should give me some time.

The L255 have been bread in captivity according to PC? They need a season to spawn; I have read that lots of cold water changes will do the trick.

The guppies will run be $200 for 20 so they will be going into a standard 2 or 3ft tank.

I have two spare tanks that I am going to put killies in. Four different species, the tanks are divided and are around 30cm squared. I plan to keep a trio but could I keep an additional male in there to? I know they are very aggressive but to the point of killing each other? If not I will just sell the additional four males and keep a trio in each.

 

[sargent_skank]

hi zeb, nick, black_pantha, clownfish_god etc etc etc

 

[wana_be_breeder]

Does anyone have any breeding reports on the L255?

 

[Bloo]

I know that PC says it has been recorded, but I searched many forums high and low and the internet in general, but no luck. Also spoke to a few importers and keepers of these fish.
I had these fish a number of times, but for some reason they always bizarrely died on me (from different sources) - so I gave up. I don't have any problems with any other catfish that just die on my like that, so have a feeling they either do not travel well and acclimatise or they don't like my water.

(Ps: this zeb ?!

)

Edit: yes it is

- L144's & guppies and the time-line. Oh well, wishing you good luck zeb. Kudo's to you to keep trying. Hope it works out