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Need opinions here.

I've have a zebra on the way, arriving on weds actually. Need some adice on the tank set up. OKAY. I got a new 10gal tank. Took water and gravel from my established aquarium. Also got a piece of driftwood and a small rock set.

What I need to know is, should I pull the gravel out and leave it bare-bottom for him?
Will it be okay to just have wood and rocks for him or do they absolutely need a cave for happiness?
As for oxygenated water, how much do I need to provide in a ten gallon tank, will I get away with a bubble wall and an airstone, or do I need to get a powerhead.


Dunno what to do, have no experience on keeping these and would REALLY hate to have to find another one, so if anybody can help me, PLEASE throw me some ideas on these questions or any other tips you can provide.

Thank you a million times in advace

Just before I begin, for future notice, always research fish before you buy them. Ask questions BEFORE you buy it. It puts less stress on you and the fish.

Alright. I prefer sand covered bottom. A bare bottom is very unnatural and may stress out the pleco. A standard gravel will also do.

Make sure you wait until right before you put the pleco in to put the gravel in. If the beneficial bacteria don't have the ammonia and nitrite, they will die and you will have to recycle your tank with a $50 fish!

Randomly put the rocks and wood in the tank; caves and crevaces naturally form. The pleco will choose which suits him best.

For aeration, a good power filter; a powerhead will also simulate the natural surroundings in the Xingu, where the Zebras come from. I prefer the Rio powerheads; they are hard and durable. If you are using the sand, though, get a larger size so it doesn't get sucked up into the intakes.

Good luck!

Just kind of worried about the tank not really "established" to begin with. Just because one puts water and gravel from an established tank does not mean that the new tank is established. Putting a cat that is expensive and sensitive to water parameters into an un-established tank is probably the wrong way to go (but that is entirely my opinion).
Not getting the fish first while your tank is cycling is probably much better. Leave it with the LFS on reserve for you first if it is possible.

Next, that is just a 10 gallon tank. Don't get a powerhead that is too powerful. But they will appreciate some current definitely.

one more question,
can i keep 1 or 2 zebras in a 5 gallon tank.

A 5-gallon tank is a little too small for even one fish.

i'm keeping a 5 gallon tank in my office with 10 tetras and 2 yamato shrimps.
thinking of replacing them with 2 zebras.

I think a 5-gallon tank is best reserved for small fish like tetras. I wouldn't put any fish in there that would grow larger than 4 cm.

don't have this problem in places where hypancistrus zebra costs $750+

w0w dat expensive.. Im thinking of exporting plecs there.. hehe myght make tons of dough hehe

But they are right the tank is two samll get at least a 20gallon tank

In a 5 gallon, it's not just the size of the fish that matters--also the schooling needs, habits, room requirements.....would you toss in a zebra danio, knowing it needs a school to be happy, and lots of swimming room?

Also, the smaller the tank is, the more difficult to maintain the water parameters.

Caril,
sure you can keep 1 or 2 zebra in a 5 gallon tank, but I would'nt guarantee that they would live long, one thing nice about them is when they die you would'nt even think thier dead the colors dont change that much untill they start to smell, and that would not take very long in a tank that has a higher temp. unless its raining zebras over there in singapore I would not even risk it, it only takes one over feeding from a co worker and that fish is a gonner, whey dont you buy one Zebra and that extra Cash that is for the 2nd zebra used it to buy a 20 gallon tank