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Hello Forum

I am looking at some L260, and I think it is a very beautifull and fantastic catfish.

My problem is just, that the only aquarium I can have some L260's is in a 54 litre tank. The aquarium is not big, but I will make it just for them. Maybe with HMF filtration with a powerhead on 600 litre/hour, and in the aquarium there will be a lot of caves and some slate the L260's can hide behind. Of cause there will be a lot of heavy water changes.

I know it is a matter of taste, but how many fish can I have in a aquarium like this?

Thank you in advance!

Hello!

I personally would not put them in a tank that small, or maybe would have 1. I was breeding in a 20g long and I think that was pushing it, IMO...

pureplecs wrote:Hello!

I personally would not put them in a tank that small, or maybe would have 1. I was breeding in a 20g long and I think that was pushing it, IMO...

Thank you for your answer. I know it is best to have them in thank from 128 litre and more (I don't have the place for a tank in this size ), but maybe I could have a smaller group.

I currently have 4x L002 in 75 litres of water, with heavy filtration and regular water changes, and they seem to be doing fine, the male has even been fanning vigorously so a spawn may be on the way. One important thing to note is that this tank is piled high with bogwood and slate/wooden caves, so the territorial retreats are ample, I haven't seen one fight.

This is all down to personal choice, but 54 litres does seem quite small, maybe a pair with many retreats would be ok, given ample maintenance.

Conrad

i dont think 54 ltrs is to small for a pair of queens
ive kept and bred a trio of 2 females and 1 male in a 60ltr tank with no problems at all

Thank you all for your answers.
I think I will wait to I can get a bigger aquarium, and then buy a bigger group, than buy just 2-3 fish.

I kept 6 L260's in a 10 gal tank for a year and they didn't die. I have moved them to a 29 gal now that they are older but they were the usual size wild caught come in when they lived in the 10 gal. I still haven't bred any Hypancistrus species so I don't count myself as an expert but 5 or 6 in a 20 Long, 12 X 12 X 30 inches seems doable but a smaller number is probably smarter. I also used a 600 lph power head attached to a sponge filter plus an AquaClear 200/50 HOB power filter and an air stone. A lot of circulation, air and a couple of 2/3 volume water changes a week was my routine.
Hypancistrus haven't spawned for me yet regardless of how I provide for them. I'm told I should continue to be patient. Fortunately, other fish keep me busy while I wait.

I currently have 5 adults and 1 juve L260s in a 29 gallon. I know of hobbiest who breed them in 10 gallon tanks but they are very aware of and keep ideal water conditions.

I like the 29 gallon tank because it is more unforgiven concerning water conditions than a smaller tank. I use a Penguin 200, an undergravel filter, and underwater fluval 2+ which I run full blast on the aquarium floor. This and a 50% water change weekly. Maintaining good water conditions will be key in keeping your L260s in a smaller tank.

Happy hobbying ,
Vriesea

Thank you for all your opinions.

Some of my friends who also is keeping some catfishes says that I can keep about 5 in a tank on 54 litre, like some of you said. It is a wonderfull fish and I would like to buy it, but I will also give it the right conditions, so I will rather wait and make a bigger aquarium for them in the future.