My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Thanks @Dis.
Alas, on the day the eggs were scheduled to hatch, the filter clogged in the tank and all three males lost almost all their eggs and some hatchlings at the same time, I suspect due to hypoxia (low oxygen). The dads kicked them all out of the caves. None of the adults died that night, and only one of the smallest babies from earlier spawns died (they were in fry baskets in the same tank). Thankfully, the hypoxia appears to have been mild enough that it really only impacted the eggs and new hatchlings which were all in caves rather than in open water.
I cleared the filters within hours, and some of the hatchlings survived and are now loose in the tank. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any baby P. compta yet, so maybe only L397 hatchlings survived.
@Fundulopanchax76, I'm using municipal water treated only with Aquavitro alpha (like Seachem Prime) to remove chloramines. The pH is about 7.5 and the TDS is around 350ppm. The temperature is 84F.
Cheers, Eric
Alas, on the day the eggs were scheduled to hatch, the filter clogged in the tank and all three males lost almost all their eggs and some hatchlings at the same time, I suspect due to hypoxia (low oxygen). The dads kicked them all out of the caves. None of the adults died that night, and only one of the smallest babies from earlier spawns died (they were in fry baskets in the same tank). Thankfully, the hypoxia appears to have been mild enough that it really only impacted the eggs and new hatchlings which were all in caves rather than in open water.
I cleared the filters within hours, and some of the hatchlings survived and are now loose in the tank. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any baby P. compta yet, so maybe only L397 hatchlings survived.
@Fundulopanchax76, I'm using municipal water treated only with Aquavitro alpha (like Seachem Prime) to remove chloramines. The pH is about 7.5 and the TDS is around 350ppm. The temperature is 84F.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I forgot to mention that the first male L397 to spawn in August is currently sitting on another clutch of eggs. If you count the clutch lost when the filter clogged, this is his fourth clutch in two months.
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Wow sorry about the filter. Such a pain but I guess it can always be something.
Good luck with this spawn
Good luck with this spawn
-
- Posts: 199
- Joined: 09 Mar 2016, 10:06
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My Wishlist: 2
- Location 1: Bulgaria
- Location 2: Sliven
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
So how many juveniles have you got now Eric ?
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I presume the numbers are about the same from the first two clutches - 60 fry plus or minus a few.
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I can't validate the other species, but yes the L397 seem to like this tank. Just last night I pulled an additional 18 babies out of a dad's cave and put them in a fry basket as I did with the first babies. A few days ago, another male spawned and was sitting on a pile of eggs, but when I came home from work a day or two later, all his eggs were gone, nowhere to be seen.
However, perspective is needed on the "guppy" comparison - while these do seem to breed readily, they don't produce a lot of fry at a time. So far my biggest clutch is about 40 eggs. But if you think about it, other plecos can easily put out a couple of hundred eggs at a time. So frequency of broods is very high, but overall production is pretty modest.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Eric, what was the temperature before you did 90% water change and what was it after? At Barbie's presentation she mentioned something like 85F -> 75F (?).
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
My tank is heated to 84F. When I do water changes, the magnitude of the temperature drop in the aquarium varies from summer to winter, based upon how cold the water coming out of the faucet is: In the summer, even my "cold" tap water is nearly 80F, so there is little change in overall tank temperature. Currently (in late November), the tap water is very cold, so after refilling the tank, the final aquarium temperature is 72F.
Cheers, Eric
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Thanks for the info!bekateen wrote: ↑29 Nov 2017, 20:57 My tank is heated to 84F. When I do water changes, the magnitude of the temperature drop in the aquarium varies from summer to winter, based upon how cold the water coming out of the faucet is: In the summer, even my "cold" tap water is nearly 80F, so there is little change in overall tank temperature. Currently (in late November), the tap water is very cold, so after refilling the tank, the final aquarium temperature is 72F.
Cheers, Eric
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I have been thinking about this. So basically you did not try to control for water parameters. It seems that the abrupt change (improvement) of water quality induced their spawn...bekateen wrote: ↑29 Nov 2017, 20:57 My tank is heated to 84F. When I do water changes, the magnitude of the temperature drop in the aquarium varies from summer to winter, based upon how cold the water coming out of the faucet is: In the summer, even my "cold" tap water is nearly 80F, so there is little change in overall tank temperature. Currently (in late November), the tap water is very cold, so after refilling the tank, the final aquarium temperature is 72F.
Cheers, Eric
During the winter you also do 90% with cold tap water per week? 72F sounds very low.
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Yes that's how I do it. Not so precise, maybe 70%-90%.
And in midwinter, tap water is so cold I add a little hot water from sink to prevent aquarium from falling below 72F.
Cheers, Eric
And in midwinter, tap water is so cold I add a little hot water from sink to prevent aquarium from falling below 72F.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Eric, time to show some of your L397 offspring, please.
What are you doing to drive these insane growth rates on them?
What are you doing to drive these insane growth rates on them?
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Here's a video on Facebook (Link). Sorry it's not on YouTube, so I can't embed it here. For what it's worth, this video does not show the largest fry. The biggest fry in this video are 2"/5cm TL.
I think L397 is just a fast growing species. Given that mine were imported at between 3 and just over 4cm TL when I bought them, and now they've grown to adulthood and spawned within 13 months of arrival, it says a lot about their growth rate.
The tank temperature is 85F; well circulated with filters and powerheads. Food includes live blackworms, lots of raw sweet potato, occasional boiled shrimp or clams, algae wafers, Spirulina flakes, shrimp, pleco, and worm pellets of various brands, and wood - lots of wood.
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Eric, what kind of wood is best (and cheap...) for L397 and how often do you replenish the wood?
Thanks!
Best, Ke
Thanks!
Best, Ke
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Hi Ke,
I buy Malaysian driftwood at LFS and I collect dead fallen dry Manzanita or oak in the wild.
Other safe woods are out there, but I can't think of them all.
There are several forum threads on safe woods: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/sea ... mit=Search
Cheers, Eric
I buy Malaysian driftwood at LFS and I collect dead fallen dry Manzanita or oak in the wild.
Other safe woods are out there, but I can't think of them all.
There are several forum threads on safe woods: https://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/sea ... mit=Search
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Here are a couple of pics - not the largest baby, but the largest I could get photos of.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
pretty hard to believe how fast they grow. This is almost beyond most ancistrus growth rates.
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Sorry to bomb your thread, Eric, just a little question on the side, what gender would you put the following L397 in?
Thank you!
only have that one, they are pretty hard to come by around my region =(
Johannes
Thank you!
only have that one, they are pretty hard to come by around my region =(
Johannes
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I tried to get some better pictures. It is 6.5cm SL / 8.5cm TL.
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I don't see much odontode development.
At that size, I'd say female.
And by the way, her colors are great.
Cheers, Eric
At that size, I'd say female.
And by the way, her colors are great.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Eric,
Do you still do normal water change (e.g. 50%) while the fish are mating or the males are fanning eggs?
-Ke
Do you still do normal water change (e.g. 50%) while the fish are mating or the males are fanning eggs?
-Ke
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Hi Ke,
To answer your question, it depends: When a male is trapping a female, I'll skip a water change for a day or more. But I have done water changes while males were fanning eggs several times.
In fact, I'm in the "no water change" situation right now. Saturday I was going to do a water change in the tank with my L397. I currently have one male fanning eggs, so I was going to do the water change. But I noticed my courting - a male and female going into/out of a cave that day, so I didn't do a water change. The water in that tank was already overdue for a change (it had been 2 weeks since the last water change), but I skipped the water change Saturday and again Sunday because of the courting mustard spots.
I am nervous to let the water get so yucky (@nabulus, you've seen how dirty the water is in that tank currently). But then again, I recall my first ever L397 spawn occurred after a period of tank neglect, and I only discovered the dad on wrigglers AFTER I did the water change (the water was so filled with tannins, poop and food sediments that I couldn't see into his cave before the water change ). So I'm hopeful this time that maybe the neglect has allowed the mustard spots to spawn.
To be clear, I'm not saying either of these species NEED dirty water to spawn. I've had multiple spawns from my L397 in clean water since that first spawn in dirty water. Rather, I suspect that the lack of attention which occurs to result in a neglected tank might provide the hesitant fish extended privacy to encourage them to spawn the first time. Once they figure out how much fun spawning is, then they seem to do it more and more, regardless of how much I bother them with water changes.
That's really all speculation on my part - just a theory - but it's a pretty safe theory.
Cheers, Eric
To answer your question, it depends: When a male is trapping a female, I'll skip a water change for a day or more. But I have done water changes while males were fanning eggs several times.
In fact, I'm in the "no water change" situation right now. Saturday I was going to do a water change in the tank with my L397. I currently have one male fanning eggs, so I was going to do the water change. But I noticed my courting - a male and female going into/out of a cave that day, so I didn't do a water change. The water in that tank was already overdue for a change (it had been 2 weeks since the last water change), but I skipped the water change Saturday and again Sunday because of the courting mustard spots.
I am nervous to let the water get so yucky (@nabulus, you've seen how dirty the water is in that tank currently). But then again, I recall my first ever L397 spawn occurred after a period of tank neglect, and I only discovered the dad on wrigglers AFTER I did the water change (the water was so filled with tannins, poop and food sediments that I couldn't see into his cave before the water change ). So I'm hopeful this time that maybe the neglect has allowed the mustard spots to spawn.
To be clear, I'm not saying either of these species NEED dirty water to spawn. I've had multiple spawns from my L397 in clean water since that first spawn in dirty water. Rather, I suspect that the lack of attention which occurs to result in a neglected tank might provide the hesitant fish extended privacy to encourage them to spawn the first time. Once they figure out how much fun spawning is, then they seem to do it more and more, regardless of how much I bother them with water changes.
That's really all speculation on my part - just a theory - but it's a pretty safe theory.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
I agree with Eric. It is better to neglect a waterchange for some days, when there is breeding activity going on. The less attention you pay to the tank during these days, the better. This is probably true for all species of plecos.
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Hi Ke,
Are your new plecos already trapping? Or is this for your other plecos? (which would also be nice!)
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Haha no. It is my L134 group.
Since last December one of the males kept trapping different females and the duration for each trapping usually lasted for more than 1 week and sometimes more than 2 weeks. However, not a single time they produced any eggs.
I wonder what I might have done wrongly. I will just stop doing WC when the trapping happens.
Thanks Eric!
Since last December one of the males kept trapping different females and the duration for each trapping usually lasted for more than 1 week and sometimes more than 2 weeks. However, not a single time they produced any eggs.
I wonder what I might have done wrongly. I will just stop doing WC when the trapping happens.
Thanks Eric!
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Thank you Jobro and I appreciate your suggestion!
- bekateen
- Posts: 8955
- Joined: 09 Sep 2014, 17:50
- I've donated: $40.00!
- My articles: 4
- My images: 130
- My cats species list: 142 (i:102, k:39)
- My aquaria list: 36 (i:13)
- My BLogs: 44 (i:149, p:2653)
- My Wishlist: 35
- Spotted: 177
- Location 1: USA, California, Stockton
- Location 2: USA, California, Stockton
- Contact:
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
Ke, you probably haven't done anything wrong. My L201s trapped multiple times unsuccessfully before they finally spawned. Just take good care of them and feed them well, and if they are repeatedly trapping, then eventually they will probably spawn.nabulus wrote: ↑05 Mar 2018, 22:03It is my L134 group.
Since last December one of the males kept trapping different females and the duration for each trapping usually lasted for more than 1 week and sometimes more than 2 weeks. However, not a single time they produced any eggs.
I wonder what I might have done wrongly.
Cheers, Eric
Find me on YouTube and Facebook: http://youtube.com/user/Bekateen1; https://www.facebook.com/Bekateen
Buying caves from https://plecocaves.com? Plecocaves sponsor Bekateen's Fishroom. Use coupon code "bekateen" (no quotes) for 15% off your order.
-
- Posts: 861
- Joined: 29 Jul 2015, 17:34
- My cats species list: 12 (i:7, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 3 (i:3)
- Spotted: 3
- Location 1: Germany
- Location 2: Allgäu
Re: My new L397s and Peckoltia compta, imported from the UK to California
If you have multiple tanks and multiple males, I would try swapping the dominant male (the one that traps the females so long) into a different tank. Sometimes the less dominant males are the better breeders.
follow my Plecos on Instagram: welsgefluester