Breeding L071's... How many per tank?

[titoman]

Hi all, I'm new here.

I just wanted to ask, for L071's... what is the most amount you would have in a 3x18x18" tank if you intended to breed?

1 trio? 2 trio?

All of them are either 10cm or under. Smallest being 7cm.

Filtration is an Eheim 2215. I also plan on running a sponge filter on this tank also. This type here:

Ummm... any other info needed please ask =]

My PH is sitting at 6.8.

Thanks heaps.. hope to become a regular on this site =]

[MatsP]

The L071 grows fairly large (about 20cm/8"), and I would probably aim for one trio in that size tank.

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Mats

[titoman]

Hi MatsP,

Appreciate the response.

The largest of these catfish that I have seen/heard of are no larger than 15cm.
I am sure they can reach 20cm in the wild, but usually 13cm is considered very large and mature already (well into a few years old).

Does this change your thoughts on keeping more than a single trio in my size tank at all?

Thanks

[MatsP]

I'm not sure why you want to get more than three - either three will breed (at which point you get too many anyways), or they won't - I don't think keeping more of them will improve that. Even at 15cm size, they will be quite sizable for the size tank, and if you do have two males in one tank, they may well fight over the most suitable cave rather than "tend to the women".

So in conclusion: No, I don't change my mind.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

How about getting some mesh 18x18" with 1/2" grid size & separating the tank into 2? Then put a pair in each half...

[MatsP]

How about getting some mesh 18x18" with 1/2" grid size & separating the tank into 2? Then put a pair in each half...

Yes, that would work. I was thinking something along those lines after I'd posted the first reply. But I don't really see the need, unless the plan is to factory breed these fish.

--
Mats

[apistomaster]

Other than common Bushy Noses, i really haven't bred any plecos in only a pair set up. I use at least one trio and normally two trios.
I would allow at least 1 sq ft(144 sq inches) per fish and provide plenty of hiding places but allowing 1.5 times that much area per any fish which reaches 5 or 6 inches is probably better. It depends on how territorial and aggressive the species is some fish like L66 easily get by with 144 sq in per fish but something more territorial and aggressive, say L128 and L200 should probably get much more room per fish to minimize territorial disputes. Maybe as much as 2 sq feet per fish in a breeding tank.
Without having more than one female to stimulate competition you may find it more difficult to induce only a pair to spawn. Each female becomes ripe at different times but that too is often driven by competition from at least one other female.
Have you ever checked out Havaard Store's pleco breeding tanks? He provides a great deal of both horizontal territory but also more 3rd dimensional structure and his results speak for themselves.

[titoman]

Hi apistomaster,

I've never heard of Havaard Store... any more info you could provide me with?

I'm in Australia by the way.

Thanks for the info!

Yes I have heard that using 2 trios can stimulate competition which helps in a colony sense that is also partly why I ask.

Cheers!

[djtonyel]

Hi
I have this ancistrus and i have breed them many times. I used to have a trio, but i sold one of my females because they fight during the time of breeding.

First i put them in 110 liters but they didnt like it som much. By the way they dont like other ancistrus species.

For two years now they're living in a 375 liters with other plecos. The male is nownow 17 cm and the female is 13cm. The female usually stay smaller. They are a shy species but really beautiful, espesially the young ones, they look simular with the L-183.