about to acquire a breeding pair of l333, need advise pls

[plecotac]

I am about to pick up a breeding pair. The male is about 13 cm n female is about 11 cm. They have bred before for few times (forgot to ask the guy how many times exactly) and the female is believed to show a lump on its tummy suggesting it is pregnant. These fish are about 5-6 years old. My questions are:
1. How many spawns do they still have if I get them now? And when would they stop spawning?
2. Considering that the female is pregnant. Would it be safe for them to be taken out from their current tank and be transferred into my tank that already has 2 young pairs (have not bred before) and if its doable, what steps should be undertaken to ensure their convenient. I don't want them to be freaked out and die. Tank water chem is very good at the moment.
3. The cave will be different than what the guy has so would it be a problem? Doubt he will give me his cave as bonus.

Any other warnings or suggestion are greatly appreciated. Thanks

[MatsP]

I am about to pick up a breeding pair. The male is about 13 cm n female is about 11 cm. They have bred before for few times (forgot to ask the guy how many times exactly) and the female is believed to show a lump on its tummy suggesting it is pregnant. These fish are about 5-6 years old. My questions are:
1. How many spawns do they still have if I get them now? And when would they stop spawning?

Assuming you look after them correctly, they should live for at least another 5-6 years. Ingo Seidel has some H. zebra that when I read about it were still breeding at the age of 15-16 years old.

2. Considering that the female is pregnant. Would it be safe for them to be taken out from their current tank and be transferred into my tank that already has 2 young pairs (have not bred before) and if its doable, what steps should be undertaken to ensure their convenient. I don't want them to be freaked out and die. Tank water chem is very good at the moment.

I would have thought that shouldn't be a big problem - obviously assuming you are not transporting them for a very long distance. Groups of Hypancistrus are generally OK, and if the introduced ones are bigger, it shouldn't be very bad.

3. The cave will be different than what the guy has so would it be a problem? Doubt he will give me his cave as bonus.

Shouldn't be too picky - as long as it's about the right size, my experience is that fish aren't very picky.

Any other warnings or suggestion are greatly appreciated. Thanks

Do not expect the fish to breed immediately simply because they have bred before - sure, it's possible that they do, but it's also quite possible that they don't - fish go under stress when they move, so it's possible they don't "feel like doing it"...

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Mats

[nvcichlids]

3. The cave will be different than what the guy has so would it be a problem? Doubt he will give me his cave as bonus.

Shouldn't be too picky - as long as it's about the right size, my experience is that fish aren't very picky.
Mats

I know with my L127's, they are breeding in a cave that I would say is too small for them. The female actually backs into the cave, lays the eggs, and then leaves and the male fertilizes. I would agree with Mats, they will find something suitable, and use it if they are ready to breed again.

Good Luck!

-Nate

[plecotac]

How it is in relation to the curently pregnant female? She might not be heavily pregnant, it would still be another week before she lay the eggs. But I am just worried this sudden change in water could freak her out and die.

[MatsP]

How it is in relation to the curently pregnant female? She might not be heavily pregnant, it would still be another week before she lay the eggs. But I am just worried this sudden change in water could freak her out and die.

Well, if that's your fear, then why not wait another week. It is unlikely, from what I've read - I've never kept this particular species. I'd hate to have a post in a few days saying "The female died"... Even if that's a small risk.

The question, however, becomes: How long do you leave it. If she's still gravid after another two weeks, what do you do?

Oh, and by the way, it's the term is not pregnant - this only applies to mammals and perhaps live-bearers. The term is "gravid" (heavy with eggs).

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Mats

[plecotac]

Oh gravid...yes...sorry. I am new into this term. I know there's a term for that but I keep on forgeting it.

Hmmm...I just found out that the pair is actually about 10 years old, who knows... it might be at the end of their breeding day(I know as you said someone kept a breeding fish for 15 years) but I never deal with him and I don't know him well plus... they are priced for $800, which is lot of money at stake. Yeah the that will be the question...if the female is still gravid in about 2 weeks, what do we do??? So i think I'll just pass...