PlanetCatfish.com

Ive had my male for about a year or so now, hes fully grown and a fine healthy specimine as far as i can tell. Only problem is occasionaly he has these funny type of fits like hes itching. Nothing on him, cant see anything, all the other fish are fine.
Anyway i recently aquired a female and want to breed. Ive introduced her to the tank but shes not really come out of her little hidy hole. Ive seen the male sitting near her but as of yet no action!
Whats the best things i can do to get them to breed? the females a bit smaller than the male and not quite fully grown yet so maybe just some time? Its a well planted, wooded, and caved tank with all the stuff they love! 20gallons of bristlenose bliss lol!!

How recently did you get the female? How large is the female (you say it's smaller than the male, but no absolute size is given for either)?

You may find that they respond to a "cool water change".

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Mats

Ive tried cold water changes already. The males fully grown but the females about 3 half inches so maybe shes to young still? She wont even come out of her cave not even for cucumber.

A pic of the female may help a bit. I consistently get emails of people wanting to spawn their fish, but their fish are not conditioned. If the female is not eating, it is doubtful that she is ready. Try doing very small daily partials and feeding a bit more protien in the diet, with the bulk still consisting of veggies, for about a month. Then do the large cool water change and your results should be different. Also, I would advise reading http://www.plecobreeder.com/ancistrus.htm

Larry Vires

Just to let you all know shes settled in really well now and is eating well and out quite a lot. The males very interested but as he gets closer and closer she tends to be a bit of a tease and move lol. Im just guna carry on with what ive been doing and see what happens. I think in all honestly no eggs will be laid for at least a few months as she needs tgo get a bit bigger in my opinion.
Thanks for your help