Pitbull Plec

[SuperColey1]

I just got myself a new pitbull plec. This is the fourth and I think, although they are damned hard to sex, that I now have 2 males and 2 females.

The great deal was, I swapped it with my man for 40 or so 2 day old black sailfin molly fry, and he brought it round.

I know I am overstocked and shouldn't really have any more fish, but the heavily planted tank is keeping the ammonia at 0, and this in course is keeping the nitrate at 0, allied with the filter doing its job too.

I hope they will breed. Will have to make some caves for them and see what happens, because they don't seem to 'trust' the huge bogwood cave (Is huge for them but only 3 inches high and 6 inches long)

 

[smithrc]

I just got myself a new pitbull plec. This is the fourth and I think, although they are damned hard to sex, that I now have 2 males and 2 females.

The great deal was, I swapped it with my man for 40 or so 2 day old black sailfin molly fry, and he brought it round.

I know I am overstocked and shouldn't really have any more fish, but the heavily planted tank is keeping the ammonia at 0, and this in course is keeping the nitrate at 0, allied with the filter doing its job too.

I hope they will breed. Will have to make some caves for them and see what happens, because they don't seem to 'trust' the huge bogwood cave (Is huge for them but only 3 inches high and 6 inches long)

as a pointer, I understand that pitbulls actually spawn like corys - laying their eggs on the surface of leaves or the tank glass

 

[SuperColey1]

Thanks for the advice smith. does this mean that they don't need caves like the zebs and hypancistrus??

 

[smithrc]

Thanks for the advice smith. does this mean that they don't need caves like the zebs and hypancistrus??

yep - they wont use them, well not for breeding anyway.

Although over hangs of wood or slate etc are used to sit in, under cover.


[edit]

Here you go... I knew I'd read it somewhere

http/www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/s...?article_id=305

 

[SuperColey1]

If they do spawn, I guess I'll have to fit a breeder net or similar over the eggs sideways so that the others don't pick the eggs off.

Here's hoping anyways. thanks for the info Smith.

 

[smithrc]

well... I had a nice surprise yesterday...

I think I can now confirm that the do indeed lay their eggs on flat surfaces...
I found them too late as I've only managed to find 4. 1 on the front glass and 3 on the backs of our java fern.

Odd, but I moved the dwarf gold spot out of the tank the day before... then they spawn the next day ??

 

[Shadow~Fox]

That was a really good trade! 40 fry for a good size pleco!

 

[SuperColey1]

That was a really good trade! 40 fry for a good size pleco!

#

He gives me more chance of breeding, then he doesn't need to import and buys cheaper and zero casualty rate if u c what u mean.

Smith what size are/were the eggs and what colour. Last week I had a cluster of ½ - 1mm small brown round eggs sat on the riccia roof of my bogwood cave and I assumed they were snails eggs and left them (They are of course now all eaten by Mr Betta and company)

If these sound right then I definately had a female before my new addition, and things are looking rosy.

Also is it a case of 36 hours between laying and hatching?

Andy

 

[smithrc]

Ours were small and golden - I'm not sure BUT they might be pygmy cory eggs...
I'll let you know if the hatch.

 

[LisaLQ]

Are you sure your nitrate is 0? I'd be inclined to try a different test kit as even clean tap water contains some nitrates.

 

[smithrc]

Are you sure your nitrate is 0? I'd be inclined to try a different test kit as even clean tap water contains some nitrates.

Plants consume nitrates

A well planted tank will have very low to zero levels
The reason for water changes changes over, they are needed to replenish what the plants have used up - rather than to lower the nitrates produced.

all 4 of our main tanks have zero nitrates... but loads of fast growing plants - that along with improved filtering is how i know my fish are not in any danger from heavy stocking.
If the worst came to the worst and the filters go out, plants also use ammonia. In the past they were used as the main method of starting a tank safely - add water then plants - then fish.

 

[LisaLQ]

I do know plants consume nitrates, we have a planted tank ourselves. But even so, there should be some reading - not even our heavily planted (heavily heavily planted) tank gets nitrates under 5.

 

[smithrc]

I do know plants consume nitrates, we have a planted tank ourselves. But even so, there should be some reading - not even our heavily planted (heavily heavily planted) tank gets nitrates under 5.

What are the specs for your tank? If you have slow growing plants then thats quite possible... the faster they grow the quicker they use nitrates...

 

[SuperColey1]

I meant Nitrites.

Ph6.4 (without Co2 is 7.2)
Amm 0
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 5-25

Mine is heavily planted with a lot of fast growers and the nitrates range from 5-25 due to the plants. It never seems to stay constant but is usually closer to 5 than 25.

 

[smithrc]

sort of back to thread...

Looks like the eggs are pygmy corys