Trios or duos on ancistrus

Robert Leonard · Post by **Robert Leonard** » 26 Dec 2004, 02:25

I currently have 2 confirmed breeding sets of plecos as well as one that am positive going by other two sets is male and female. I currently am housing 2 sets in 2 10 gal tanks. The other set that hasn't spawned is in a 55 gal with some albino angel pairs. Could I combine 1 albino male with 2 females and sell off extra male. Will this put a spawn off at all do to females and male having to readjust turf (both pairs are albino standard fins). If it is okay and won't put off a spawn where will it be one female to many ex could a male handle 3 females by himself? Or will it spread him to thin?

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 26 Dec 2004, 17:26

Hi!

Ancistrus like many other member of the Ancistrini are colony spawners so a male can perfectly handle several females on his spawning territory, the females will spawn basically one after another and the male will take care of the broods and or larvae at the same time without much problems...

Cheers
Yann

julian · Post by **julian** » 28 Dec 2004, 20:01

yeah mine do it all the time, very often the females will lay on consecutive days and the male will guard both cluthches of eggs!

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 28 Dec 2004, 21:45

The problems occur however when the females are not on the same cycle. That is, when they spawn in alternating intervals instead of synchronous. The male fish will literally brood himself to death**. (**=not quite, but I have had a male or two look pretty poor after the third or fourth clutch of eggs)

Because of this I usually try to have more males than females.

ALSO: Agonistic behaviour between the males may be a potential stimulant to get the females into breeding mode. Or is it the other way around?

Presence of fertile females may trigger agonistic behaviour...

Who knows?

Either way pressures of mate-selection would dictate it's wiser to have more than one male.