L46'S

[stiffler69]

Hi just wondering a few things with regards to caring for zebra plecs.

What is the ideal water temperature, foods are they the same as normal pleco's algae waffers, cat fish pellets ocassional blood worm etc etc

how old are they before they become mature?

And i know a couple of the members have been successful in raising fry, are they difficult to rear how does the water have to be and filteration should it be heavy?

thanks.

 

[stiffler69]

Just picked myn up aclimitising as we speak

 

[Nick16]

how much did you pay for them?
where did you get them? and what size are they?

 

[stiffler69]

They are just over 2" maybe bigger, they were from a local breeder who has a few he has raised from different lines.

i payed £500 for 5

excellent price considering the size and age of them.

Really looking forward to watching them grow and seeing how much they differ from other species.

thanks.

 

[JenCliBee]

Congrats on your new purchase mate, stunningly beautiful fish.

How old are they?

To answer a few questions above.... temp ideally 84-86 i used to keep mine at a nice stable 82 and they seemed happy enough.

Diet should consist mainly of a meat based diet, they don't tend to eat anything apart from this anyways... i used to feed mine, beef heart, bloodworm, tubifex, prawns, varying other fish based foods, variety wafers by tetra and tetra prima as there main feed daily.

They usually mature between 3-4 years, some have had them breed earlier, some haven't had them breed untill 6 years, some just havent had them breed fullstop.

Raising fry all depends on how you plan on doing it, most will remove the eggs if the males kicks them out and try and hatch themselves, isn't the most successful way though. Some will remove the eggs and cave with dad in into a fry saver, some will just remove the fry once there a few days old. You will have to see which would work out the best way for you, the fry like any other egg based fish, plenty of water changes, excellent water quality and fed a good quality high protein diet and have your fingers crossed.

 

[stiffler69]

Thanks jake i was tol they are just under 2 years old so ill be playing the waiting game for some time in terms of breeding

 

[stiffler69]

Most sought after fish, i think these should be changed to most boring fish! put some hiding places in today and havent seen them once since hehe do they even eat?

 

[JenCliBee]

Most sought after fish, i think these should be changed to most boring fish! put some hiding places in today and havent seen them once since hehe do they even eat?

The most you will probably ever see will be there tails hanging out of the hiding places, they will usually feed best at lights out and tbh the best time to feed them.

 

[Jonathangerous]

that's really all most loricariids do.