H.Zebra question.

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » 11 Jul 2004, 11:23

Hello to all!
I have 3 Zebras 1 male and 2 females.The mail has pair up with one of the females and they chase the other female when goes close to there favorite spot.I have in the tank some tubes but the pair preferes to stay under some cavities of a piece of wood i have in the tank.
No sign of eggs yet but yesterday i took some pics and i show the belly of the female to be swelled without eaten anything?
You can check the following pic.The female is on the wood.

Note that currently i am simulating the dry season.The water level is dropped,peat moss extract is added,filtration has decreased and the chemistry is 90% as rio Xingu.....

Please tell me your thoughts!

Jim

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 12 Jul 2004, 07:09

Hi!

She might be full of eggs, but the tubes are surely too big for them to feel secure...
Also the current direction might not please them in the tubes, you might want to change this also...
Cheers
Yann

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » 12 Jul 2004, 15:54

Thanks for your reply!

How big is the ideal diameter of a tube for zebras?
As for the current direction should it be against the entrance of the tube or not?

Thanks again,
Jim

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 12 Jul 2004, 20:08

Hi!

The best fit for the cave is the fish width (without fins deployed) + 1/3 of pectoral fins length, the fish height (without dorsal fin deployed) + 1/3 of the dorsal fin length, the fish length + 1/3 of its length...

Regarding current, it should not be totally directed at the cave but a lateral current or in between direct and lateral is the best option...

Cheers
Yann

husky_jim · Post by **husky_jim** » 15 Jul 2004, 07:44

Thanks for the info!
I will make the changes and keep you guys updated!

Thanks a lot....!!!!

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 15 Jul 2004, 14:27

Hi !
How old/sized may be the HZ to get adults ?

doctorzeb · Post by **doctorzeb** » 16 Jul 2004, 10:08

Hi Virginie

Depending on how well the fish have been kept / fed, they should reach maturity at around 5-6cm, with quite a wide span across their pectorial fins. The males are easier to identifiy as they get older as the hairs on their pectorial fins become slight more prominant. You will also notice slightly more territorial behaviour as they reach sexual maturity.

Check out the cat-e-log for some cracking photo's.

Huskey jim, nice looking fish. the male should be able to extend his fin up slightly and lock himself in the cave ( sort of like a barb), also it's a good idea to put a slight incline on the cave, ie sloping back so the front is higher than the back, (just a couple of mm), this stops any stray eggs from rolling out when he's feeding.

cheers

rob
<a href="http://www.qems.biz/zebra.htm">www.zebrapleco.com</a>

Virginie · Post by **Virginie** » 16 Jul 2004, 13:28

thanks a lot for your response.
Someone has explained to me that males have got thicker band (the second one from the head, the one which goes on pectoral fins) than females'. What do you think about this information ?

doctorzeb · Post by **doctorzeb** » 16 Jul 2004, 14:41

Virginie

If you're talking abou the stipes, it's something I've certainly never heard of or been able to see. All of the zebras markings are different, and I've seen both male and female fish with both thick and thin markings. The front ray of the pecotrial fin is usually thicker on the male, maybe this is what they were refering too.

rob

YouTube · Post by **Jools** » 17 Jul 2004, 12:59

Virginie wrote:Someone has explained to me that males have got thicker band (the second one from the head, the one which goes on pectoral fins) than females'. What do you think about this information ?

I think this is a by-product of the adult male having a different shape and is unreliable at best.

Jools