Panaqolus claustellifer L306

[b.reder]

I am intrigued by this little guy. Do we have any active long term keepers of this diminutive pleco? Are any available? How many can you keep in a 35 gal tank? Thanks. -Barry

[Jobro]

Hey Bary,

I got 5 of them, but still juveniles. They look pretty neat and seem to be easy to handle.

with 35 Gal I would put 6-8 of them, I guess.

[b.reder]

Jobro-

1) Are they as orange as the photos on this site show?
2) Have you bred them?

Thanks. -Barry

[bekateen]

Are they as orange as the photos on this site show?

Hi Barry,

If they are like L397, which I believe they are (in this sense), yes they are that colorful as juvies, then the colors fade as they age - the colored areas narrow and darken, so there is less color in adults.

Cheers, Eric

[Jobro]

No, I did not breed them, yet. But they should not be tough.

[b.reder]

Thanks! You da man!

[Jobro]

These are still juveniles. And I never got to see their parents. So I don't know how they will look adult. But they do look nicer now than they looked when I got them with about 2,5cm SL.

[panaque]

I have 4 wild adults, 3 males and 1 female. They remained colourful until they started breeding. Then the males' markings became less distinct but the female has kept her colours. They spawn regularly and the fry are stunning.

[Jobro]

Hey panaque,

can you tell me the size of your adults? What caves do they use for spawning? Clay or bamboo?

Thanks.

[b.reder]

Well- I've called all the usual fish retailers that I know. No L-306. Not now- not in near future. Any suggestions? Thanks

[Jobro]

Got mine from a private breeder in Austria. They are pretty rare in Europe as well, I'd say.

[panaque]

Hey panaque,

can you tell me the size of your adults? What caves do they use for spawning? Clay or bamboo?

Thanks.

I'd say they are about 8-9 cm total length. I offered them two clay and two oak caves and they are only interested in the oak ones.

[Mol_PMB]

My L397s preferred my homemade oak caves too. I made a variety of sizes and they picked smaller diameter ones and re-shaped them over time to suit their tastes!

[bekateen]

Well- I've called all the usual fish retailers that I know. No L-306. Not now- not in near future. Any suggestions?

In September, go to Madison Wisconsin and attend the weekend-long Catfish Cataclysm meeting: http://catfish-cataclysm.com/

I can't guarantee you'll find L306 specifically, but it may be your best bet... and no matter how that goes, I bet you'll find some similar and amazing plecos (Panaqolus too) that people are breeding and selling.

Cheers, Eric

[Jobro]

My L397s preferred my homemade oak caves too. I made a variety of sizes and they picked smaller diameter ones and re-shaped them over time to suit their tastes!

Thanks, guess I will need to try oak caves as well, at some point.

I'd say they are about 8-9 cm total length. I offered them two clay and two oak caves and they are only interested in the oak ones.

Thanks, so atleast I won't have to wait for them to reach 12cm or more to get some results

In September, go to Madison Wisconsin and attend the weekend-long Catfish Cataclysm meeting: [url]<a class="vglnk" href="http://catfish-cataclysm.com/[/url" rel="nofollow"><span>http</span><span>://</span><span>catfish</span><span>-</span><span>cataclysm</span><span>.</span><span>com</span><span>/[/</span><span>url</span></a>]

I can't guarantee you'll find L306 specifically, but it may be your best bet... and no matter how that goes, I bet you'll find some similar and amazing plecos (Panaqolus too) that people are breeding and selling.

Cheers, Eric

Eric, what you suggest is the easiest way to get the catfish addiction You should add a Warning Disclaimer there xD Kids might read that

[bekateen]

what you suggest is the easiest way to get the catfish addiction You should add a Warning Disclaimer there xD Kids might read that

Mu-hu-hu-wah-ha-ha-haaaaa! (sinister laugh, while petting pure white, long-furred cat)

[bekateen]

@b.reder, please read this:

I am forwarding this message on behalf of @CharlieM9, who is temporarily dealing with login issues:

Hi all,

Sorry I am having issues with logging in....so thanks to Bekateen for copying this!

I currently am breeding my group of 8 L306 in a 40g US breeder style tank. They have a small group of danios over there to help keep them calm but cant remember the name of those, but they aren't catfish so it doesn't matter their name anyhow! Now back to some more questions at hand..

1) Cataclysm will be the first time I am making any available. I have a very sneaky suspicion, that aside from the ones that will be donated into the rare catfish auction, I will only have enough available to fulfill preorders.

2) My group has been spawning in clay caves. I have not given them the choice of wooden ones as, I'll be honest, I am just too lazy/busy to make them when the clay are working.

3) The red color does fade some in the adults, but this may have to do to the tannin stained water mine live in or even slightly possibly the diet they are fed. I'm not intelligent enough, or willing enough to run tests which may stop them from spawning! My largest F1s are just starting to approach 1.75" TL and are still as red if not more red than when they were younger. Very similar to the red of clean lava rock but they POP more.

-CharlieM9

[b.reder]

CharlieM9-
Where do you live? What do you plan on asking for the 1.75" L306? Thanks. -Barry