zebra plecs

[lynzmk]

It's our ambition to own one of these beauties - has anyone any experience of them?
We're worried about spending the money (ouch) and then the poor thing dying for one reason or another. We're not well off so buying a zebra plec would be a big thing.
Our community aquarium (3.5 feet) has been established for 15 months and has been stable for well over 12 month, the only deaths we have suffered were of some neons which were a foolish buy early on - from a supplier with dead fish floating in his tanks etc... silly us. But! you live and learn! ) never go there again!
He had a beautiful zebra plec priced at £45 - very tempting but thank god we didnt given the fate of the neons!

So - can anyone tell us more about these handsome fish - feeding, water conditions, even suppliers/breeders (in the north west of england preferably bolton/manchester area as we don't drive)

Thanks in advance
L x

 

[DiXoN]

i am actually going to set up a breeding tank for zebra plecs and i am in the process of trying to buy quite a few of them.
i have done some research but mainly on the breeding conditions but as for basic info then here goes.
they like the tank to be warm so a temp of at least 80 degrees but they do prefer 82+ they also need a good amount of flow as this will match the section of rio xingu where they are found.
they eat meaty foods and not algea like other plecs so feed bloodworms etc.
the plec will live in a cave so as long as you have something for it too live in it should be fine plus add some wood to the tank.
good luck
dixon

 

[Cheese Specialist]

i am actually going to set up a breeding tank for zebra plecs and i am in the process of trying to buy quite a few of them.

Oooh me too but not for a few months. Maybe I'd be able to get some off you?!

 

[lynzmk]

wow im envious!
Well if u ever do get a little gang of baby zebra plecs look my way

arrgh too far tho boohoo

L x

 

[ryan]

Breeding:
It has been shown that three factors are the most important for successful spawning of Zebra Plecs, these are - higher temperature, good oxygenation of the water, and suitable breeding caves. A temperature of 84F is best, provide a powerful flow from the filter and several caves and bogwood retreats. Keep the lights subdued is possible to. Try to get the PH to 6.5-7.0 and make sure you have brought males and females, the best ratio is 2M to 4F but 1M to 2F should work. A long 20 gallon would easily surfice for this. You could run one external and then use maybe one or two powerheads to increase water flow. Wuv has a good set-up for her Green Phantom Plecs in which she has Power heads on the top of PVC piping which leads to a sponge, this enables a fast circular flow of water this will help to oxygenate the water to. Once they have the right conditions they are not that difficult. I would love to try my hands with them to. Any chance of mail order? Obviously the water must be kept in perfect conditions with little to no trace of ammonia or nitrates.

If you are not breeding:
They do prefer to be in groups so if possible buy more than one. They will need plenty of hiding places in the way of caves and bogwood. The water should be soft and slightly acidic with Nitrates and Ammonia at 0. Once they have adapted to your tank they are relativly easy to take care of. But getting them settled in isn't as easy, they will often refuse food or seem to refuse food. They aren't a fish that will fight for its food, if there is another fish there it won't bother and if the food is out in the open again at first it won't bother so you need to drop the food right beside it so it can get a look in. They prefer more meatier foods so Bloodworms or Brinshrimp is a good choice to try and get them feeding. As Dixon has already said they do like a powerful current and high temps to.

 

[lynzmk]

aw thanks for all that info ryan.

So... does anybody think it's a terrible idea for us to consider a z.p ?
I've been reading up on here and in books and i know they can be hard to introduce but afterwards are usually fine, and we're willing to spend the time helping him settle in.
Is it likely that our hyp. plec will be ok with a z.p ? or is it a case of 'this tank aint big enough for the both of us' ?
(we have a friend willing to take on our hyp. plec should he outgrow his tank - hes only about 3 inches now though at 18 months old)

L x

 

[rcl]

I don't think that it would be too much to put those two plecos together in that size tank, but I think you really can't ignore the fact that they are schooling fish (but if you did ignore that you wouldn't be the first /). Keeping one of these fish would be just like keeping 1 neon tetra or 1 clown loach.. you can do it, but the fish would probably suffer from it behaviorwise and healthwise. Although these are extremely expensive fish, and not only that but it would be hard to find 3 of them anywhere for sale.... so maybe 1 is the only feasible way to go

Robert

 

[DiXoN]

i am actually going to set up a breeding tank for zebra plecs and i am in the process of trying to buy quite a few of them.

Oooh me too but not for a few months. Maybe I'd be able to get some off you?!

well i am trying to buy a full box of them them keep the ones i want and sell the rest i will keep you posted but i have not heard anything for a few days when i sent an email to my distributor.
i have heard they should be coming available in the next month or so as it is the catching season in brazil but due to high flood conditions and the fact that they are not easy to get at could be a problem.
if people want them then now is the time to get them as they should be taken of the brazilian 'good list' soon and stopped from export due to the deforestation in the area of the xingu they come from and the depletion of their habitat.
i can see the prices being skyhigh this year but we will see.
dixon

 

[cryosi]

i would not recommend keeping just one of these, they are expensive but lovely plecs, not advisable for the novice fishkeeper thou, needs a species only tank to do well. you wont see much of them in day, extremly active at nite and early morning, well mine are anyhow. good luck

 

[lynzmk]

thanks for that cryosi ...

i certainly wouldn't want to get one only to accidentally mistreat it

And it'll b a while before we can afford to set up a species only tank
Oh well, for now i have a pic of one on my desktop


L x