Zebra Plec

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

I have come across someone selling a Zebra plec, but before I buy him, I just want to make sure he'll be OK with my existing tank-mates;

Cronwtail Betta
10 Cardinals
Albino Cory
Peppered Cory
Upside-down catfish
Talking catfish
Red-tailed Black Shark
2 Sailfin Mollies
9 baby Sailfin Mollies

Also - what sort of price do you think I should be paying for such a fish if he's compatible? He's currently 3-4 inches and about 18 months old.... will he get much bigger?

Thanks everyone!

 

[smithrc]

not really suitable I'm affraid - they are a very shy plec that wont compeate for food and looking at the other fish - he'll have a hard time for territory too (what sized tank is it?)

Zebras do a lot better in small groups too. single zeb plecs will be even more rarely seen.

 

[bunjiweb]

If it is cheap enough it would be worth getting a 10Gallon tank just for the zebra plec, some nice powerful filtration and some nice big rocks. This would re-create its habbitat nicely and you would have a MUCH happier fish.

If you put a zebra plec in with that lot i fear you would have a dead fish soon enough!

Ben

 

[Oddball]

Its well worth considering that 10 gal tank, especially now that they have been removed from the import list for being endangered!

Ps how much? if you dont want it i will!

 

[Metermaid]

Is it by any chance the fish being offered on e-bay....have been watching this one (no intention of buying - no room, no money)...current price is £149 - ouch

 

[smithrc]

Is it by any chance the fish being offered on e-bay....have been watching this one (no intention of buying - no room, no money)...current price is £149 - ouch

for a lone zebra

poor little fella... I hope the buyer has some more.

 

[Metermaid]

....I've seen this fish being described as "soon to be extinct"... I really hope that isn't true....would hate our hobby to be responsible for that - are breeders here having any degree of success I wonder ?

 

[Oddball]

They can be bred, but due to their shyness and need to be in small groups, along with their rarity and desiraility (giving a high price tag) it makes it difficult to obtain the desired number of fish!

 

[nuckfluckchuckbuck]

It's not the one on ebay, no....

£150 for a wee fishy!? Only in my dreams!

I've been offered the little fella for £40 and I've seen some 10 gallon tanks in my LFS <----- (picking up the abbreviations already, eh? ) which come complete with filter/light/heater for just £50....

So that would be about £90 in total then.... still not cheap, but a lot better than £150 for the fish alone!

It's payday tomorrow too.... I can almost feel the moths in my wallet for the next month already...

 

[TwoTankAmin]

zebras like it warm, similar to discus.

I currently am aware of at least 3 folks who are actively spawning zebras. One has over 80 which he bought specifically to spawn. Another has a colony of 8-10 and she has well over 50 zebra fry as of our last conversation.

In the US they are now selling for 100-150$ depending on size.

 

[Metermaid]

Wow £40 sounds like an excellent deal - would you be able to get him a friend or two later?

It's good to hear that they are being spawned successfully - maybe we will all be able to afford them in the future - and hopefully they will be safe