Help Please - Sexing large LDA33 \ L142 heaps of Photos

[krazyGeoff]

Hi there,
It has been a couple of years since I last shared pictures of my LDA33 \ L142 group, and I am still only 90% sure of their sex's

Today I redecorated their tank, so I thought I would take some photos and see if there are opinions on the sex of these fish.

At the very least I have not seen pictures myself of

Baryancistrus sp(l142)

this large, so that may be of interest.

I'm going to do a seperate post for each fish, and then one of the group.

The fish are all showing their stress colourations.

It has been a very long project growing these fish.

Hopefully some of the large baryancistrus experts will be able to comment.

In most photos of the individual fish the dorsal fin is out of the water.

Thanks

Geoff

[krazyGeoff]

Fish one:
Fish one is 25.5cm long (TL)

[krazyGeoff]

Fish two:
Fish two is 21.5cm long (TL)

[krazyGeoff]

Fish three:
Fish three is 27cm long (TL)

[krazyGeoff]

Fish four:
Fish four is 28cm long (TL)

[krazyGeoff]

The group:







I hope you enjoyed these photos.

Anyone game enough to comment on the sex's?

Thanks

Geoff

[pleco_breeder]

One and four appear female. Fish two is male. Fish three is unusual as the vent appears female, but the odontodes and head shape look male. Not sure what to say about that one.

Regardless, at the sizes listed they should be nearing maturity. I say nearing because I used to sell to an angelfish breeder whom bought a group of these to help keep their grow-out tanks cleaned. With the 3x daily water changes and heavy feeding, they grew from 5 cm to 25 cm in their first year. I've always assumed their growth could be pushed based on that instance. Very nice group of fish regardless. Even at the young age, they were sexable, but the odontode growth was very intermittent. I've thought several times over the years it may have been seasonal, but lost touch after they got upset because the fish grew faster than I had told them. They weren't looking for "monsters", and weren't interested in trading the group for smaller fish.

Larry

[krazyGeoff]

Thanks Larry.
Fish 3 and 4 have been in my possession for 4.5 years.

Cheers

Geoff

[pleco_breeder]

Haven't done any Baryancistrus for years in my personal collection, but based on L18/81/177 they should be very near spawning at that age.

Larry

[jac]

Just wanted to say you have a group of beautiful fish there
I'll follow this tread and learn from you about this species. I've got 3 myself but no where near as large as these 4..
Good luck!!!!!

[krazyGeoff]

Thanks Larry and Jac,
I have made them a new cave, with a 10cm x 8cm opening.
It looks like a shoe box in the corner of the tank.

I am not used to having such big caves, that's for sure.
Cheers

Geoff

[brechtvh]

Very nice group!
Hope you can be successful in spawning these wonderful fish.

[Tommi]

Very nice fish. I have three L142's, biggest around 26cm and others 23-25cm. I have had them about 6 years now but I have no clue about sexes.

Here they are eating http://thompsoni.1g.fi/kuvat/Kalakuvat+ ... /_full.jpg

[krazyGeoff]

Hi Tommi,
That is a wonderful photo.

I see mine eat only once or twice per year.

Cheers

[Tommi]

I see plecos everyday a lot, even with out any food. Here's a video of plecos eating veggies. Theres also that L273 of mine who is at cave atm. waching fry. Im waiting when he goes to eat something and I steal his babys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67y2ZTQ1 ... ature=plcp