RO best for spawning zebra plecos?

[Orinocensis1]

Just wanted to know some of your opinions on spawning zebra plecs. Can they spawn regularly with out RO water? How many of you do not use RO to trigger a spawn? I'd like to get some opinions since I have not been able to spawn my group of adults. No idea what I am doing wrong, the person before me spawned them 2 times with out even trying. had had them for a few years during that time.

Was thinking of adding a RO unit on the house to get soft water and hope that will trigger a spawn even though the person that had them before me did not need to use RO, but maybe his tap water is softer then mine? thanks for everyones opinions in advance!

[.Plecomania.]

you tried running them through a thorough wet-dry season? involving conditioning with nice foods? Also putting a powerhead to blow water perpendicular to cave entrances might help.

[Orinocensis1]

I did try every kid of foods and they are very picky lol. Now they are eating mostly frozen brine, frozen bloodworms, and they take a bit of crushed earthworm sticks. I have a aquaclear 110 on the side of the tank so the current is perpendicular with the cave entrance. I have temp at around 85F. Also have a airstone and a large sponge filter. I don't know the water parameters exactly but guessing ph 6.4 or maybe a bit lower. Hardness I'm not sure but I'm guessing that it is the main problem and the reason why I haven't been able to spawn them. I need to get the water softer I think.

I have tried 2 methods thus far:

1. Fed really well, w/c 50% per week with cool tap water. With no success

2. Fed well with live black worms. 20% W/c every day for 7 days then no water change for 2 weeks to let water get a bit bad (simulating a dry season) then back to w/c. Also with no success.

One problem I was having with feeding live black worms was they seem to have a been eating it but I noticed that all the worms were crawling under the caves, because my tank is bare bottom. Any else have that problem?

[bunnyrabbit]

I have had the same problem. I have tried live black worms with other hypans and the black worms always seem to wind up under the caves. Eventually they eat them though.

[.Plecomania.]

How old are the zebras? i hear they need to be at LEAST 3 years old or 2.5 years old before they even think about breeding.

[Orinocensis1]

The previous person that owned them before me had them for 2 or 3 years and they spawned for him 2 times with out even trying. So my adults must be atleast 4 years old I'm guessing. But like I said before, he got them to spawn 2 times with out him trying. He lives in a different state so I'm sure his tap water is different. I'm trying another friends tip I'll let you guys know if it works lol.

Please if anyone has any helpful info please feel free to post it. I would appreciate it!

[.Plecomania.]

you should find out the specs of the original owner's tap for sure.

[Orinocensis1]

Yeah I will have to get in contact with him. Hopefully I can figure out something that will work with these guys lol. I guess I just have to be patient!

[panaque]

How long have you been trying? I have learned that patience is the key with spawning plecos.

[Orinocensis1]

I've been trying since mid June. But I moved them to another tank about a month or a little more so I didn't count the part when I first got them lol. I'm just gonna give them time. I'm gonna try RO but what's the proper way to use it with these guys? I wanna simulate and dry and rainy season right so how long water change with tap and when do I start RO?

[Orinocensis1]

Anyone that can help me out with some info?

[racoll]

Before offering any advice, I would need to know the hardness (TDS, conductivity, GH, KH) of both your water and the water of the previous owner. If they are drastically different, then maybe RO is an option, but if they are similar, then other explanations to account for the lack of breeding are more likely (e.g. feeding or water change regime).