Easy-bred species

[bernt, posts: 63]

What species of Loricariida catfish are easy or relatively easy to breed? I?ve bred Ancistrus dolichopterus, but I?d like to breed some other species, but I think that it is a good idea to start with the more easy-bred species. Any suggestions?
Right now I?m trying to breed Otocinclus, and my females are starting to get egg-swollen now, so if I'm lucky...

Bernt

[Yann]

Hi

Well other than the common Ancistrus, there are usually Sturisoma aureums and Sturisoma festivum , Rineloricaria spp. Otocinclus are not that easy, but some people breed them very easily and other seem to have all the possibel problem to make them spawn... With Otocinclus there is not egg guarding as with the other species, so you have to take a look just to make sure the eggs are not eaten by the other...

[Shane]

Bernt,
The next step after Ancistrus is usually Farlowella, Sturisoma, or Rineloricaria. I would also recommend Panaqolus spp and/or Peckoltia.

[Chill, posts: 117]

Wrong time of year to breed otos, mine always spawned in May- August and then it stopped. I had them for 3 years and thay spawned every season. You need a heavily planted tank, I used Lots of Cardamine lyrata and some Echinodorus bleheeri.
Someone else might have a different way of doing it, but this worked for me.

[Yann]

Hi!

Well I have one species of Otocinclus : Otocinclus sp "PARAGUAY" or "NEGRO", despite being house ine a heavy planted tank, never managed to have a spawn, despite having several female looking full of eggs!!!!

Cheers
Yann

[bernt, posts: 63]

Chill: So they are season breeders? Did you do anything to induce breeding? I?ve read somewhere that they are supposed to breed like Corydoras, so I?m wondering if I should have more males than females. Right now I have a group of four females and two males. Maybe I should get some more males? The only problem is that it is almost impossible to sex them in the store. I use to buy a group and just see what sex they turn out to be? How big was your breeding-tank, and did you have any other fish in it?

Shane: You recommend Pecoltia? Are there any Pecoltia that are easier than other?

[Chill, posts: 117]

I wrote an article that is in Shane's World "Spawning the Dwarf Sucker, Otocinclus sp.",
maybe that will help a little more