L136B arrived!

[Ruud109]

Hello,

I am since recently part of a WhatsApp group of local pleco enthusiasts and amateur breeders that do a weekly raffle and I won a pair of L136B's that just arrived today. The fish are still very small, around 3.5 cm. I bough another pair so I have a little group in my 80Liters bare bottom tank decorated with some caves and some driftwood, set at 26 degrees celsius with a 207 Fluval cannister filter and lights set low. Currently there is also an Aquaclear HOB filter there, but that one will move to another tank and is only there for cycling purposes right now.

I am guessing they are still too small to sex... but hoping I end up with a good split of males/females.

Would love to hear any recommendations you have to get this guys grown up and hopefully spawning in future!

[Tony4143]

Congratulations on the new addition. I have a breeding colony of 10 myself that are wilds. The love meaty food and lots of current
-Tony

[Ruud109]

Thats cool Tony! Yeah I have carni wafers, Fluval bug bites and an assortment of frozen feed and spirulina tablets right now, but will try to order more variety for them. I am waiting on a spray bar to arrive for the 207 Fluval which pumps 7-15x the volume of the tank, thinking the spray bar will provide more oxygen if put at the right angle. I might at some point in time add a powerhead or something.

My worry a little bit with these being still so small is that too much flow will simply blow away the food I put in there and 1) they won't eat well and 2) I am making my water parameters worse.

[Ruud109]

Congratulations on the new addition. I have a breeding colony of 10 myself that are wilds. The love meaty food and lots of current
-Tony

Tony, another question, in your experience at what size can you sex them? On this pair I notice one has a bit rounder nose and the other a bit pointier, hoping that says something even thought they are still tiny.

[Tony4143]

Congratulations on the new addition. I have a breeding colony of 10 myself that are wilds. The love meaty food and lots of current
-Tony

Tony, another question, in your experience at what size can you sex them? On this pair I notice one has a bit rounder nose and the other a bit pointier, hoping that says something even thought they are still tiny.

6.9cm and up
-Tony

[Ruud109]

Thank you Tony

[Tony4143]

Thank you Tony

Anytime
-Tony

[Ruud109]

Happy to report that both have found an individual cave they like and I see poop so they are eating. I am removing the remaining food each day and try to deviate between different types of food as much as I can. I am expecting two more L136B by end of next week!