My Newly created pleco caves.

Xod · Post by **Xod** » 08 Mar 2011, 23:50

Its coming spring time again and I am finally interested in breeding my L010a Red lizard catfishes again. Here is a pic of the first design.
My tank currently has no caves for breeding, hopefully this will induce some romance.

Taken on Samsung Galaxy S.

ridout · Post by **ridout** » 10 Mar 2011, 17:31

Good job on the caves

You might need some more silicone..... just to make sure they are stuck together?????? lol

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 10 Mar 2011, 23:39

It is hard to guess what size cave will appeal to different species but these seem a little more spacious than I would expect L10a to choose. I have some I am about to set up to breed.
I usual use caves barely large enough for two fish to squeeze into.
I thought I would begin with 3/4 inch I.D. PVC caves at first but as a rule, when making caves similar to your caves(I use Faux stone finished floor tiles), I offer a range of sizes from some which seem too small to some which seem too large. Then observe which caves they actually prefer to use.
Good luck. These are one of my favorite catfish but this is the first time I have had more than one pair to work with. They are just reaching what I consider to be at their minimum breeding size/age. I got mine from a friend who says his adults would eat their fry.
If that is true, it is the first Loricarid I have bred or tried to breed which has ever bothered their fry. For what it is worth, the parents of my fish chose to use close ended caves. I expected them to prefer open ended tubes.

Xod · Post by **Xod** » 12 Mar 2011, 03:16

Just put the caves in, they are definitely too big. Not bad worth of 10 dollars of investments. I really want to get some of these in this Youtube video.

Anyone have any ideas where I could pick some up?

plecomanpat · Post by **plecomanpat** » 12 Mar 2011, 04:34

Why dont you give it a whirl making them. It's not rocket science, you can make them the right size your fish require. i picked up a tile saw at a pawn shop for 20 bucks. Home Depot or Lowes carries slate tiles, even some types of stone. Just make sure you get aquarium silicone.

apistomaster · Post by **apistomaster** » 12 Mar 2011, 17:36

Good advice, plecomanmanpete,
I have a friend who owns a rock and gem shop so I use his rock saws.

My Newly created pleco caves.

My Newly created pleco caves.

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