keeping LDA33 with other L numbers...

minmin · Post by **minmin** » 19 Sep 2005, 10:26

hi everyone!
i've got a mature 3 foot tank- water parameters; nitrite always zero, nitrate less than 10mg/l, pH 6.5.
its currently home to my pair of ancistrus sp. in a gold form, three otos, and about 20 corydorus.
its heavily planted and has large chunks of bogwood.

i've seen a beautiful LDA33 that i wouldn't mind adding to the tank; will he be ok with my ancistrus? they're a breeding pair and i don't want to disturb the male...

i've never kept any baryancistrus, but i've read that the gold nugget baryancistrus can be quite quarralsome amongst themselves...

i just don't want to upset my babies!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 19 Sep 2005, 13:02

I've got two L177 Gold nuggets in a 400 liter tank, and they are fine together with 5 bristlenoses that are smaller than either of the gold nuggets. [Birstlenoses are breeding in the tank (unfortunately, it's mum and son that are having babies, so I'm leaving them in the tank to be eaten by other inhabitants).

A 3 foot tank can be anything from less than a hundred to a couple of hundred liters, depending on the other sides dimension. If it's only just over a foot in height and width direction, I would say it's a bit small for a LDA33, as they do (albeit slowly) grow quite large...

--
Mats

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 20 Sep 2005, 08:44

As long as there are plenty of hiding places, and you make sure there's plenty of food for all, it should be OK.

But Mats correctly points out that they will eventually need a bigger tank, as they reach 10" or so (maybe more).

However they are very slow growers and it may be several years before you will need to upgrade.

(having said that, heavily planted tanks aren't the best place for a fish like a Baryancistrus. Once it gets to more that about 3" it will find it very hard to more around comfortably).

Fish Soup · Post by **Fish Soup** » 20 Sep 2005, 10:36

I have three 6" LDA33s in a 55 gallon, with a single Albino and three unknown Ancistrus. (I know, I know! I'm changeing water twice a week. Got to upgrade!) The Barys have been together for over 18 months now with no signs of aggression at all. Not towards the bristlenose or one another. A little bluff charging at feeding time, but I have never had so much as a torn fin on any of them. So not as aggressive as the Gold Nuggets are reported to be, IME.

Don

minmin · Post by **minmin** » 09 Oct 2005, 14:34

Sorry I never got back sooner- thanks for the advice!
In the end I decided on a gorgeous baby L128, blue phantom, only about an inch long!
smller adult size and a nice friendly pekoltia type; he shares food with my female ancistrus- i think she tries to mother him!
Heâ??s been settled in for about two weeks now and is eating like a lil piggy ;)
thanks again

jane x