L183 Breeding

[-Ian-]

Hi all
I have 2 male and 1 female L183s in a community tank, am thinking of trying to breed them and have a couple of questions.
Is a species tank essential for a breeding set-up, if not what are suitable tankmates? The tank I plan to use is 120 litres and atm they’re sharing with 2 Blue Rams, 3 Honey Gouramis and 4 Corys.
When I see some I’ll probably get a couple more females but in the meantime, are 2 males & 1 female together less likely to breed than 1 of each?
Thanks

 

[smithrc]

Hi Ian,

I had a group of 4 - 2.2

the males were always fighting - when I seperated them the females then went at it too!

I ended up with 2 seperate pairs - then just to rub salt in the wound - one male killed a female trying to spawn.

Thankfully the other pair managed to work it out and I've now got a pair breeding in a 130l with 1 pristilla tetra, 4 L400's, a pitbull plec and a dwarf gold spot.

 

[skippy_49nz]

They look... AWESOME!!!

If they breed, smuggle some to NZ... but you didnt hear that from me!

 

[-Ian-]

lol, NZ might be a wee bit too far

smithrc - I'm surprised yours were fighting mine always seem quite peaceful, maybe it's just when they're in the mood they start to squabble. atm the tank they're in isn't set up for breeding, there's plenty of bogwood for them to hide under but no appropriately sized caves, will also be moving the corys out and bumping temperature up to 28-30c (currently 26), I think the rams and gourami's should be okay at that temperature.

 

[smithrc]

lol, NZ might be a wee bit too far

smithrc - I'm surprised yours were fighting mine always seem quite peaceful, maybe it's just when they're in the mood they start to squabble. atm the tank they're in isn't set up for breeding, there's plenty of bogwood for them to hide under but no appropriately sized caves, will also be moving the corys out and bumping temperature up to 28-30c (currently 26), I think the rams and gourami's should be okay at that temperature.

Sounds like your lucky - I know of approx 3-4 other owners that have had similar problems (and I only know 3-4 other keepers)

Mine spawn in one of JoZeb's 1" clay caves...

 

[-Ian-]

Woohoo - they've spawned, dad is guarding a nice clutch of eggs in a slate cave

Should I move them into a seperate tank now or wait until they hatch?

 

[toddnbecka]

I'd leave them where they are until they absorb the yolk sacs. The male will guard them until they're ready to leave the cave.

 

[-Ian-]

I'd leave them where they are until they absorb the yolk sacs. The male will guard them until they're ready to leave the cave.

thanks

 

[freerunner416]

Congrats Ian!!!

How old are your 183's mate? I have 6 and am hoping that i will end up with a breeding pair!!

 

[xweeqtx]

Congrats!

I thought I had an L183, turns out it was an L182. Gorgeous fish, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for one.

Freerunner - Oh my, you're in Denny? LOL. Small world, I'm in Banknock.

 

[-Ian-]

Congrats Ian!!!

How old are your 183's mate? I have 6 and am hoping that i will end up with a breeding pair!!

I'm not sure, I bought all 3 from Jenclibee last October, sold as an adult male (dad), sub adult female (mum) and sub adult male (gooseberry).

Jen - do you remember how old they were at the time?

 

[JenCliBee]

Congrats Ian!!!

How old are your 183's mate? I have 6 and am hoping that i will end up with a breeding pair!!

I'm not sure, I bought all 3 from Jenclibee last October, sold as an adult male (dad), sub adult female (mum) and sub adult male (gooseberry).

Jen - do you remember how old they were at the time?

Just PM'd you m8 with rough estimates , congrats on the spawns ... may take a few off you when there old enough

jen

 

[-Ian-]

Congrats Ian!!!

How old are your 183's mate? I have 6 and am hoping that i will end up with a breeding pair!!

I'm not sure, I bought all 3 from Jenclibee last October, sold as an adult male (dad), sub adult female (mum) and sub adult male (gooseberry).

Jen - do you remember how old they were at the time?

Just PM'd you m8 with rough estimates , congrats on the spawns ... may take a few off you when there old enough

jen

Ta

Freerunner - we make it about 18-21 months for mum and 2.5 - 3 years (ish) for dad

 

[-Ian-]

Wee bit of an update with this, Dad's parenting skills aren't too hot, a few days after my las post I noticed he'd thrown all the eggs out of the cave. Most of them went mouldy either before they hatched or just after they'd started wriggling, only one survived long enough to become free swimming.

The good news is the survivor seems fine, he's sharing a 3G tanks with a few cherry shrimp and already has the white markings

 

[richie1craw]

Has any1 got any young l183 plec's for sale in scotland? i've been looking for about 18 months now, joined this forum hoping to see if i could locate a breeder, any help much appreciated.
thanks
richie