Breeding L-128, Blue Ghost

[AndreasB]

Finally I managed to get some eggs on my Hemiancistrus L-128

I have been waiting for this day over 2,5 years. I tried many different things like, simulate rainy season, a lot of water circulation and I bought a 900L aquarium, all this just to get some eggs on this nice fish. After trying a lot of different methods, I almost give up.

About 6 moths ago I bought 3 x 222 L aquarium, from a friend. I took 6 of my Hemiancistrus into one of the 222L aquarium. Just to let go of my 900L tank, and use this tank for something else.

I January this year, there was a large auction in Stavanger. One of my friends came from Porsgrunn, this is a 5 hour drive. He had one male Hemiancistrus with him that he wants to auction. I took his male Hemiancistrus and switch it for one of mine. (Maybe this was the key to eggs)

1 month ago:
I lower the PH to about 6, 5 with peat in a filter bag. And raise the temperature to 28-29 degrees Celsius. And add some oxygen. After this I just don’t care about the fish, because I’ve giving up. Change water maybe 2 times.

A couple of days ago I seen some activity I the caves. And it just seems impossible for me to have this luck of breeding this fish. So I didn’t touch anything, just to see what happens. So today is the day I have been waiting for, for a long time. there are eggs in the cave.

The red arrow indicate the cave I found the eggs.


I have removed alle the dead eggs.


Aquarium equipment:

- 222L Aquarium
- JBL cristal profi 500 filter
- 2 Aquaclear 70 power heads
- Sera 300W heater

Question:

How long will i take to hatch?

[Morten]

Grattis Andreas

[2wheelsx2]

Good job. I'm hoping to do the same thing with my 128's when they mature, so I have nothing to add except a hearty congrats!

[Suckermouth]

Congratulations!

[Griparn]

Wow, congrats!! I had the same approach when my Panaque Maccus finally breed. I had given up and did some water changes every once in a while. Seems to be the key

Nice looking tank btw!

[MatsP]

I've only had mine for about a year, and they have matured quite nicely, but no breeding attempt.

I definitely have a confirmed male, but I think one of the supposed females is actually a male as well. Which leaves one (hopefully) female.

--
Mats

[AndreasB]

Thanks everyone

[Cristoffer Forssander]

If I remember right, the eggs would hatch in 6- 8 days... There are some people in Sweden (3 that I know about, who bred them). They seemes to breed on regular basis as soon as the finaly started to breed!

I hope to make this myself one day!
Typically, it always happen when you do nothing, wich is probaly one of the best way to breed plecos...

Grattis!


Cristoffer

[MatsP]

And I forgot to say "Grattis" - well done.

--
Mats

[Janne]

Why did you remove the eggs?

Janne

[AndreasB]

6-8 days of waiting, I think I can do that. Thanks for the answer

Janne:
I think this is the safest way of protecting the eggs. Since this is the first time I have eggs on this fish, I don’t feel quite safe to let them be in the cave, I don't want the male to maybe eat the eggs.
So this time I will breed the fish the Haavard Stoere way, to begin with.
I use a small aquarium with oxygen pump, 28 degrees Celsius, methylene blue and 100% water change every day.

If the fish shows to breed on regular basis like Cristoffer Forssander says, there will be plenty of chances for the fish to take care of the eggs on their own

[AndreasB]

Hello again

There are some eager fry, that don't have time to wait for the right time to hatch.

Fry one hour old

[MatsP]

Andreas, can you make a collection of pictures of these fish and e-mail them to me (mats at planetcatfish dot com) - don't have to do it now, but as you go along. I can then add them to the L128 Cat-eLog page.

--
Mats

[2wheelsx2]

Awesome news, and good to hear that the little guys are progressing well.

[Richard B]

Hello again

There are some eager fry, that don't have time to wait for the right time to hatch.

Fry one hour old

Cool pic & well done with the breeding & photography

Mats - looks like you're playing "catchup" with the L128's now...

[AndreasB]

Fry day 2


I counted 53 fryes last night. I found 4 dead fryes this morgning, so now there are 49 left.


All the images are small, because i post the same pictures on 2 different forums. And the other forum has max wide of 500 pix

[2wheelsx2]

Very nice. Hope you have continued success with raising the rest.

[Suckermouth]

Man those sure are adorable looking fish. Great job!

[AndreasB]

Fry day 5


The fryes still going strong

[Suckermouth]

Looks like the blue is coming in!

[Morten]

Hi Andreas,

What about some updating and some more pictures.

[AndreasB]

Fry day 8


Today i moved the fry into a feeding tank.
I just don't know exact what too feed the fry with! And I need some help with that.

Is there some good food to use?

[2wheelsx2]

I can't help with the food choice much, but have you tried blanched vegetables?

Awesome pic though.

[AndreasB]

Just a little update

[MatsP]

Great work!

[2wheelsx2]

Wow, those little guys look awesome!

[Cristoffer Forssander]

The one behind, that you can se the back of, looks blotched...


Cristoffer

[AndreasB]

There are still some of the fry that have a lage belly. What is the reason for that, can i do something about it?

[Cristoffer Forssander]

There are still some of the fry that have a lage belly. What is the reason for that, can i do something about it?

I think you could use esHa 2000! Otherwise they will probably die!

I will whriste the rest in swedish.... (sorry, but I have difficulties to explain otherwise)

Jag tror det här är ett liknande symptom som bukvattensot. Det är en form av bakteriell infektion i alla fall som kan drabba yngel. Se till att du håller gruset rent genom att "dammsuga det". Har du lite tur så kanske Janne Ekström ser tråden och han vet nog mer exakt vad som är bäst.

Men någon medicin som tar invärtes bakterier och som är snälla mot malar är nog vad du bör använda!
Jag föreslåt att du åtgärdar det så snabbt som möjligt.... Jag vet inte om det är en bra idé att höja temperaturen en aning också...
Hoppas det går bra!

[MatsP]

I think you could use esHa 2000! Otherwise they will probably die!

I will write the rest in swedish.... (sorry, but I have difficulties to explain otherwise)

And here's a translation
"I think it is an illness similar to bloat. It is an internal bacterial infection in any case, which can affect fry. Make sure you keep the gravel clean by frequent "vacuuming". If you are lucky, Janne Ekström will see this thread and he probably knows more preceisely what is the best cure.

But a medication that is intended for internal bacterial infection and that is suitable for catfish is what you should use. I suggest that you act as soon as possible... I don't know if it's a good idea to raise the temperature too... Hope all goes well!"

I translated it not for Andreas, but for anyone else trying to follow this and/or has the same problem.

--
Mats