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Hi!

Today i picked up 4 L075 for my new breeding project tank. 2 of them are larger, approx 12+cm and 2 of them smaller, ca 8-10 cm. Both larger ones have a beautiful pattern/coloration, even if i think it could get better after they really get to settle in. The smaller ones however are very drab, gray and missing the pattern on their bodies. Do anyone know if this is something that changes with time/growth? Or will these 2 individuals just look like this forever? All 4 of them look a bit different to L075 however.

Is there something i should do husbandry wise to make the change, as of now i've only had them for a couple of hours however..

All 4 should be collected at same time and place, sadly i couldn't be provided with the exact location but i was told they got caught in Venezuela (yeah i know, very broad spectra). You will see here in the pictures what i mean, the pictures we're taken at the same time, 2 hours after they entered my tank. One of the large in first pic, with some color and pretty much full pattern. Then the largest of the smaller ones in pic 2, looking very drab and to be honest looking like it's another species?

Could it be different species in the pictures? Maybe the collectors got it wrong and thought it we're the same?

Since I'm looking to breed these in the futures, good coloration and genetics is important. What do you guys think, will they grow up to be more beautiful fish or will they stay this drab?

Thanks in advance and best regards,

Fabian

Hi Fabian,

The smaller one looks to be stressed and should get better color as it settles in a bit. The do not appear to be L75 to me..... look like .

HTH
Chuck

Hi Chuck,

You are right, after looking at L147 and all 4 of my new ''L075'', they are definitely L147 and not L075.

The exporters in colombia must have either mistaken the species or misnamed them. And that their caught in Venezuela also fits the L147, even if it fits L075 too.

Do you know if they will be ok with the meaty feeding that the L066 prefers? (Like meat tablets etc). If they require a mainly vegetable diet i might have to return them. I've found it can be quite difficult to feed properly if you have species with very different feeding behaviors.

Thanks in advance,
Fabian

If this helps, the Data sheet for reads:
"Feeding
Omnivorous with a tendency towards meaty foods. Not an effective algae eater. Well fed individuals will not damage most plants."

Hi Dave,

I read that, but at the same time in Shane's article on breeding the species he states that they should be fed a mainly vegetarian diet. So it would be nice to hear from someone else who's kept this species and to hear if it is possible to keep them on a meaty diet. Have you kept them?

Thanks in advance,

Fabian

Yes, they will do fine with meat in their diet.... some vegies pellet/stick foods should be feed too but both the Hypancistrus and L147 will benefit from this.... they don't care to much for algae wafers from what I have seen. I do keep and breed the L147 along with many Hypancistrus. Here are a couple pictures.... a f1 adult pair and a F1 juvie around 5cm.

Take care,
Chuck