Rainy Season

[Cleo21]

I read that stimulating the rainy season (or breeding season) is a trigger most plecos will spawn with. How do you do this properly? Thanks!

[bekateen]

Hi Cleo21,

I'm sure different people have their own methods. Myself, I increase frequency of water changes and lower the temperature about 5F.

Cheers,
Eric

[Cleo21]

Hi Cleo21,

I'm sure different people have their own methods. Myself, I increase frequency of water changes and lower the temperature about 5F.

Cheers,
Eric

How long do you do this for? Do you have a period of no water changes before this increase? Do you also increase feedings?
Thanks!

[bekateen]

How long do you do this for? Do you have a period of no water changes before this increase? Do you also increase feedings?
Thanks!

As far as a time of no water changes, I just rely on life to abuse me and deprive me of time to do WC for a while. My regular schedule goal is always a 50%-80% WC every week or two. But in busy times I may go 4-5 weeks without changing water. Then for rainy season I do a WC every day or two for at least a week.

Cheers, Eric

[Shane]

Cleo,
Several things happen at the onset of the rainy season.
- Temperatures drop due to the influx of rainwater and cloud cover that blocks the sun.
- Dissolved oxygen levels increase due to increased water flow and wind action
- An influx of food. Some washed in by the rain and some available as the rivers flood their banks and open more available feeding areas.
- Decreased light due to clouds and the water becoming deeper
- Increased flow of rain water makes the water softer. The pH may go down in alkaline waters but may actually go up in blackwaters
- Dissolved waste levels drop massively as the water volume increases and waste products (mainly rotting leaves and vegetation) are washed away.

The above said, I have found very few plecos need seasonal changes to begin spawning. Even the Chaetostoma spp (which are subject to huge rainy season changes in the wild) I have spawned do not need environmental changes. They spawned best when I replicated their spawning season (cooler water, high O2 levels, plentiful food, and very clean water) year round.
-Shane

[Cleo21]

Cleo,
Several things happen at the onset of the rainy season.
- Temperatures drop due to the influx of rainwater and cloud cover that blocks the sun.
- Dissolved oxygen levels increase due to increased water flow and wind action
- An influx of food. Some washed in by the rain and some available as the rivers flood their banks and open more available feeding areas.
- Decreased light due to clouds and the water becoming deeper
- Increased flow of rain water makes the water softer. The pH may go down in alkaline waters but may actually go up in blackwaters
- Dissolved waste levels drop massively as the water volume increases and waste products (mainly rotting leaves and vegetation) are washed away.

The above said, I have found very few plecos need seasonal changes to begin spawning. Even the Chaetostoma spp (which are subject to huge rainy season changes in the wild) I have spawned do not need environmental changes. They spawned best when I replicated their spawning season (cooler water, high O2 levels, plentiful food, and very clean water) year round.
-Shane

Thanks for your answer! Would topping off with store-bought distilled water help bring the TDS and pH down a little? I know people use RO to help lower this stuff but I do not have access to it. Therefore, is it safe to use distilled?

[Shane]

Distilled is fine for top offs, but keep in mind rain and melted snow do the same thing for free.
-Shane

[Cleo21]

Would I have to filter it or do anything to collect it a certain way?

[Shane]

Not at all, especially in Ontario.
-Shane