Zebra Plecos

[Laracroft]

:bigsmile: I am over the moon at this moment in time. My tank has done it cycle and today I have added my brand 7465new Zebra Pleco's.

Two photo's but must say this is the best I can do for now, as they are hiding away deep under the rocks at the moment.

Enjoy

7464

[f-fish]

They must love all the hiding place - what does the rest of the tank look like and what else do you want to add later? See if you can add some drift wood - they need to snack on it. coconut shells I think do not have the same dietary advantages.

Later Ferdie

[Laracroft]

These are not algae eaters, they are meat eaters. Wood is not the best option for them. I am not going to add anything else to this tank. My aim is to bread these babies. The tank is plain and simple, some rock, coco hotels and pots. It's and 80 L tank, with lots of highflow circulation.

[Vis]

Hi Laracroft, really nice fish there, hope you are succesfull in breeding them.

Have you checked into the type of cave the need for breeding?

[Laracroft]

Alot of the people use clay pots that is cut in half, I have also bought some pots and cut them in halve.

[Vis]

I have read on a zebra plec forum that they need a cave where the female can be trapped inside by the male with no change of escaping called "trapping" and this is the way they breed?

[Khalid]

Looking good there Lara.
Nice size fish you have there, enjoy them

You need some nice slate caves
http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?6083-how-to-make-slate-caves&highlight=slate+caves

Also some dither fish to help them settle in nicely

[Laracroft]

I wanted to use slate, but then decided againts it, slate crumbles and I don't want loose pieces in the tank? Sorry but what is dither fish?

[Khalid]

fish for you will be some cories or tetras, they will take the high temps. They just help to make the fish feel more safe hence they will come out in the open more frequently

[Laracroft]

O :oh: will see in future. Thanks

[Khalid]

slate crumbles
There is some nice slate out there, very thick and very strong.
I prefer the thinner slate as it is much lighter on the tank base

[Laracroft]

Do you use silicon to make the caves?
Where did you get the slate from?

[Khalid]

There is a local tile company here in Lenasia that stock them.
I use the clear bostik marine silicone to stick them together

[Laracroft]

You have some pictures?

[Khalid]

in the link
http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/sh...ht=slate+caves

and in my albums
http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/album.php?u=350

[Khalid]

sorry, cant find the pic in the albums . ignore the albums link

[alvin]

Hi Laracroft

Congratulations. Your setup looks great. Lots of thought went into it.

All the best on the breeding. I think once you prove to everyone that its worth taking the risk on expensive exotics, more of these fantastic fish that dont usually make it to our shores, will be brought in by the importers.

Rgds
Alvin

[Laracroft]

Thanks Alvin, holding tumbs for these babies, and yes they are still babies only about 4cm long

[f-fish]

These are not algae eaters, they are meat eaters. Wood is not the best option for them.

My bad - I did some more reading on them - WOW does seem like a nice fish to try and breed - Information on the web seems a bit contradictory some say multiple pairs per tank allowing for single territorial hideouts or go as far as saying 1 pair per tank and then you have those that say well oxygenated well planted tanks.

Keep us posted and please keep the pics coming.

Later Ferdie

BTW this is the link to Khalid 's slate caves .. http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?6083-how-to-make-slate-caves

[moe]

hey guys

mind telling me how much these beauties actually sell for?
always see them in pics but never in a pet shop
just how rarer are they?

[Singhms]

Would also like to know that, i havent seen them in any stores!

[Go-Big]

The true L046 go for from R2500 to about R3500

[moe]

sheeeewwww

that much??

[Altum]

Hi and welcome to the new tasa folk!
While L46 , is not common in SA there a few available now and again...usually on special order.

Hence, hardly likely to be found in local stores..where it will easily be the most expensive aquarium fish for them to have in stock.
As a loricariid, it is primarly nocturnal or crepuscular...ie. active around dawn, dusk, or during night hours

SO, even IF your local store managed to have one for sale, you wouldn't really SEE it now, would you?

Your chances of getting a healthy, genuine Zebra Pleco L46 are best when obtained through a reliable supplier..
We at TheWaterZoo DO have them, in stock, at the moment.

Anybody can contact via the sponsor forum, or PM, if interested.

Hope that helps..
Oh, and Marijke, howsit..
...you getting ready to move to the Fairest Cape ?

PS special TASA-only pricing scale, even better than before!

[Laracroft]

Altum, yip house is in the market, just waiting for formalities to take place.

My Zeb's are growing nicley, feeding them mussel as well at the moment, they love it.

[Toby]

congrats :) Love these guys they are so beautiful