Claro Spawn

FelineFishGuy · Post by **FelineFishGuy** » 08 Dec 2005, 04:14

Picked up a group of young ancistrus claro in the spring of this year. I distributed them throughout my group of tanks for algae control (excellent at that !). I did however keep 3 together to see if i could get a pair. As luck would have it, the group of 3 turned out to be 2 females and a male. They have grown to just over 2 inches and the male seems to be fully whiskered. Several weeks a go the male began to not show up for regular feedings and then he disappeared altogether. I also noticed one of the females was getting really fat (and i would say she seemed to double in size - a bit alarming actually !). I suspected she was heavy with eggs. However as i have only bred cory cats i had no preparations in the tank for the pair (e.g., good cave)- so they must have just made a home in the wood somewhere.

Well, about 10 days ago, the female reappeared (skinny as a rail) and a couple of days later the male began showing himself again. Two days after the male came out from hiding I saw 3 little LDAO8 clinging to the back glass. I grabbed the turkey baster to try to grab them but they darted into the plants. I have only seen one youngster since the first sighting. Just a few days ago i did manage to grab the lone survivor with the turkey baster and get it in a breeder box. It is eating fine and is growing really fast. I will be able to release it real soon back to the tank without fear of predation. Having never raised this type of fish before, I am shocked at how fast it is growing.

I am now fattening up the females again in hopes of another spawn - I will be putting a nice cave in the tank real soon in support of their activities. They are in a tank with some very actively breeding cory cats. I wonder if this could help trigger a spawn in the claro's ?

Just thought I would share

Regards
FFG

tjudy · Post by **tjudy** » 08 Dec 2005, 04:36

Cool! Put me on the list!

FelineFishGuy · Post by **FelineFishGuy** » 05 Feb 2006, 00:15

Just a FYI update on the LDA08

they spawned in late 2005. However I have just found 5 juveniles sticking to the glass yesterday. They are much smaller than the lone survivor of Spawn no. 1. I put in a few clay pots after Spawn no.1 so maybe they liked the new hidey places - the new juveniles are already 1/2 inch in length - they have been hiding really well - but it was funny that they all decided to make their debut on the same day.

I suspect that there may be a few more little ones amongst the wood.

also - the breeding pair were really rasslin' around yesterday - I suspect they are preparing for another event -hope so.

Tank params are as follows:
- 20 gallon high with lots of real plants and wood
- tankmates are Panda corys, tetras, rasboras
- Temp 76
- pH 7.5
- Moderate hardness
- 50% to 60% weekly water changes with temp drop of 8 degrees (this keeps the Pandas going)

They really keep the glass free of algae but they eagerly eat shrimp pellets, earthworm pellets, spirulina wafers, and flakes.

Regards
FFG

Post by **Barbie** » 05 Feb 2006, 04:45

It sounds like you're having good success with your claro! I really enjoy mine. I have about 50 fry growing out at the moment and I've been shocked at how often the male will spawn with whatever female is ready. While being used to Ancistrus allowing more than one female to spawn within a few days of each other, the male claro has had a batch of eggs and a batch of fry about 2/3 done absorbing their yolks on two separate occasions. If the females are ready, he's obviously willing. The females lay their eggs on the roof of the spawning cave. Even tipping the cave back doesn't keep the male from throwing out any eggs that fall off. I don't know if he does it intentionally or not, but so far, if I just keep putting them back when I find them, they do seem to eventually hatch.

Congrats on your babies. I've been amazed how many people are looking for these guys in the last year. I just wanted them because they were small and interesting. I hadn't even worked on spawning them. I had to revise that plan after the fish club meeting at my house where everyone wanted some and I didn't have a single one to spare, hehe.

Barbie

FelineFishGuy · Post by **FelineFishGuy** » 07 Feb 2006, 03:34

I got the Claros because they are small and they eat algae well- that they do!!. The males get a nice set of tentacles as well - and mine do turn kind of gold at times. It is perfect to keep a couple in a 20 gallon !!

they are my only L-fish --- i am saddled with an abundance of Corys !!

I may have to procure more of those L's !!

Regards
FFG