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Can anyone advice how to simulate rain season in my 240 liter (64 USG)? My L066 are now more or less adults, but no spawning yet. I am looking for a "trigger" in order to have them spawing. I have introduced frequently water changes with temperature some degrees lower than the tank temperature, but no success yet.
Some data:
Ph 6-6,5
Temperature 28 deg C (82,4 deg F)
Kh 3
Gh 2
strong current 4000 l/H

Wobbler

It may take more than one "cycle" of lower temperature to trigger the fish. At the end of the cycle, also increase feeding.

--
Mats

Personally, I would start with preparing the fish with a dry season.

That is, less waterchanges, higher temperatures for a month or so. Then, using clean rainwater (filtered over carbon) or RO water (well oxygenated) I would dilute the soup they are swimming in fourfould or more, 3 or 4 waterchanges of 70 % or more (best use 2 hoses, in order not to lower the water too much) and lower the temp a few C

say basal was 28 C, dry 30 C and rain 26 C

Thank you!

Hopefully this will have effect.

Wobbler

How long have you had the fish?

About 5 months now, but they were bought as youngsters. They are 10 cm lenght now. At what age or size can you say that the fish is sexually mature?

Wobbler

wobbler wrote:About 5 months now, but they were bought as youngsters. They are 10 cm lenght now. At what age or size can you say that the fish is sexually mature?

Wobbler

That's about the right size, but I'd be a little more patient. My L333 juveniles I bought bred about a year after purchase; most of my other Hypancistrus bred after about a year after purchase, even though I bought them as breeding age. My adult L066 didn't breed about a year and a half after getting them.

I just try to change at least 70% of all my fish tanks water about every 4 days but sometimes I only get around to it once a week.
All the species of plecos I have bred have done so without any attempt to simulate seasons.
Water changes and sometimes extraordinary patience usually is rewarded.
I do not keep any subtropicals like Bas Pels does. They are more likely affected by simulating seasonal changes.
I have bred all my wild Discus pairs using the same tactics. I don't think it is that important for true tropicals.

In over 45 years in this hobby I haven't found it is necessary to simulate seasons.
It can help to increase the live foods and water changes at any time of the year and I do not pay any attention to the barometer either. My philosophy has always been to do what works for you and for me that is how can I produce ever more fish with the least possible amount of extra work.

AM, when you do your WCs, do you just use your local tap water, or do you use a mix of tap/RO, or strait RO?

Thanks!

apistomaster wrote:I do not keep any subtropicals like Bas Pels does. They are more likely affected by simulating seasonal changes.

I think they are. These I put in winter in colder water (10-12 C in winter), and provide them with shorter days.

I looked at the daylength at home, approximately 53 north. Uruguay is 30 to 35 south, so apart from we being shifted 6 months, their summerdays are considerably shorter than ours.

So for each hour our days lengthen, I increase their day with 30 minutes - and vice versa, ending up with 10 hours of light in winter and 14 hours in summer

I get the impression for the fishes the temperature is more important then the daylength. But I also care for plants, and these do need the shorter days in winter

I usually tries to change about 50% of the water every week i all my tanks. Using tapwater as the water around here got guite good parameters. pH about 7 and very soft, KH about 1 GH about 2. No cloride. However i allways use Aquasafe or other additives in order to neutralize possible cloride.

apistomaster wrote:I just try to change at least 70% of all my fish tanks water about every 4 days but sometimes I only get around to it once a week.
All the species of plecos I have bred have done so without any attempt to simulate seasons.
Water changes and sometimes extraordinary patience usually is rewarded.
I do not keep any subtropicals like Bas Pels does. They are more likely affected by simulating seasonal changes.
I have bred all my wild Discus pairs using the same tactics. I don't think it is that important for true tropicals.

In over 45 years in this hobby I haven't found it is necessary to simulate seasons.
It can help to increase the live foods and water changes at any time of the year and I do not pay any attention to the barometer either. My philosophy has always been to do what works for you and for me that is how can I produce ever more fish with the least possible amount of extra work.