Need some advice with what Loricariidea sp. to choose.

Peter Lovett · Post by **Peter Lovett** » 17 Jul 2005, 23:38

I hope this is the right place to post this.

I am look for a Loricariidea sp. for a little project of mine. Though the project will not be starting for a couple of years. But i would like to at lease research and test my options.

The project is a tropical pond 10m x 2.4m x.6m or 30'x 8'x 2'for the study of behaviour and genetic drift in Apistogrammas. The pond will be a closed system other than a constant trickle though of peat treated RO water.

Temp 24c and 28c
PH 6 to 6.5
hardness 20 to 30 ppm

The Loricariidea sp. would need to stay small and be able to breed in the above conditions with algae and detritus being there main source of food.

Is are there any Loricariidea sp. that would would be able to reproduce under these conditions.

I am at the moment experimenting with Rineloricaria lanceolata. I have 20 that are now just out of quarantine and will be distributing them round my fish house some time in the week and adding so 1.5" waste pipe to the tanks.

Though I would prefer a self perpetuating population. I will if nessarsary just keep adding them when the population dies out.

Osmium · Post by **Osmium** » 18 Jul 2005, 00:43

Hi Peter,

Do you realise that unlike the short-lived creatures with which you hope to accompany them with, that the catfish may take many years in which to reach sexual maturity?

Figures like 3-10 years are not unfamiliar to me. Please correct me if I am wrong.

'Apples and pears' - ye plant for yer heirs

.

Nick

Peter Lovett · Post by **Peter Lovett** » 18 Jul 2005, 01:01

Had some idea that they take some time to reach sexual maturity. How ever this is not really a problem when the pond is built and everything is stable I hope to keep it running for the rest of my life witch i hope to have at least another 45 years. Also for everything to remain stable there will need to be young fish coming along of all the fish that will be housed in there.

It going to be a very complex project witch i need to get right almost straight away so need to get the right fish.

Fish chosen

Apistogramma Sp. Morado

As they are quite variable in colour. 100 fish

Crenicichla compressiceps

Too keep the apisto fry under control 10 pairs added after the Apistos spawn for a second time.

Loricariidea sp.

To clean up and keep algea undercontroll.

Also an easy to spawn Tetra which has not been decided yet.

Need some advice with what Loricariidea sp. to choose.

Need some advice with what Loricariidea sp. to choose.

Rhineloricaria lanceata(?)