How shy are the Zebras really?

[Line]

Hello all of you

Just wanted to share this little video of some of my zebras. Hope you will enjoy..

http://www.welse.ch/video/zebrafilm2.wmv

Best regards
Line

[apistomaster]

My first experience with keeping H. zebra was one in which the fish were still very samll 1" or 2.5 cm.

But I had 10 wild H. zebra about 4.5 cm which started out being very shy.
Then I placed a trio of my adult F1 Surisoma aueum and an adult pair of wild S. haraldi in their tank. The difference was night and day.
The Zebra suddenly lost their traditional shyness and would mix it up with the Discus and and Sturisoma whenever I fed live black worms and earth worm sticks.
If that was typical of Zebra plecos they would be in even higher demand.

[Line]

Hello

You are so right!
I think though - it is typical for them. If they are mixed up with others.

Best regards
Line

[CanadaPleco]

zebras were one of my first fancy plecos, after all the hype of them being so sensitive, I found them to not be at all. I ended up selling them all because I never saw them though I bout VERY VERY small F1 fry, prob .75" - 1" TL never lost a single one, and I live in areas where I loose power often and for many hours at a time. I grew them for around 2 years sold them, and now want more 4 yrs later Awesome hypans, and they don't hide anymore then any other hidyancistrus.

[apistomaster]

It is true that H. zebra do not hide more than most Hypancistrus species but most Hypancistrus species are extremely nocturnal and shy.
Every so often, you get a nice combination of factors including conditioned behavior which helps you get to enjoy them when the lights are on more than usual.
Many factors effect behavior.
If you compare H. zebra with other Hypancistrus the consensus of the majority of those who have kept them for years is that they are among the more delicate Hypancistrus species. I consider them to be very much like Hypancistrus L260 but since the ban on the export of Brazilian species of Hypancistrus have become more successful, L260 have become about as rare as H. zebra so there are not a lot much difference between the availability of these two very similar species. Consider yourself fortunate that you did not experience any problems with such small specimens. Most hobbyists are not prepared to handle such small juveniles well enough to escape some husbandry difficulties. Most people do find them a very reclusive species. More people give up their H. zebra because they get tired of never getting to see them than any other reasons.
Most of the plecos I raise for sale are sold at 2 to 2-3/4 inches but unfortunately it is common for some breeders to sell juveniles less than one inch long. If breeders would hold them until they are closer to 1-1/2 inches fewer problems would be encountered by their new owners. I know they grow very slowly but when a fish sells for $150 each or even more I do not think it is too much to ask for breeders to wait until the fish are closer to 1-1/2 inches when they sell them. I mean no offense to breeders of H. zebra or the other expensive Hypancistrus but is it really too much to ask that you put a year into growing them before selling instead of 6 months? Earth worm sticks are not so expensive that the added time would hurt the profit margin all that much. Once you have adjusted to keeping them a year before you sell them then you will always have new broods reaching the larger salable size just as you begin to need them.

[water works]

extreamly wise words and couldnt agree more. wish more people shared this attitude!!!!!