Tankmates for L002

[plecorocks]

Hi all,

I am getting in some L002 from Brazil, Rio Tocantins next week. These individuals (8) are supposed to be 6-7cm in length. Would you be able to sex them at this size? I plan on starting these in a tank of approximately 75L, eventually moving them into a 280L tank when they (and the tank) are ready. I have been stockpiling and soaking a lot of dead wood (mostly Quercus rubra, red oak).

I have read numerous threads on recommendations regarding the filtration, diet, substrate, current, temperature, ph, etc. on this wonderful website, but I was wondering what other loricariidae would be suitable tankmates? My "ideal" would have compatible requirements, not grow above 15cm, be hardy, and fairly accessible to hobby. I am interested in an individual of one or two other species to add with the panaque, with the potential to use them in future breeding colonies.

Is

L168

a possibility?

Thank you for your time,
Jesse

[Firestorming]

Hi Jesse, I have

L002

and

Peckoltia compta

breeding together in the same tank.

In fact most of my tanks house a Panaque, Peckoltia and Hypancistrus combination of some type. It allows me to maximise the species I keep and breed and not run the risk of hybrids.

[plecorocks]

I have considered the Leopard Frog's. They are available in the area, so that is a plus. I admit I know little about them, what is your feeding regimen for these mixed tanks? I have, maybe prematurely, crossed the hypans off my list as their diets are so different than the panaque. Is this a flawed idea?

Thank you

[Firestorming]

I feed a pretty mixed diet of flake, pellets, algae wafers and fresh veges.

I also have plenty of wood for the panaques and most of the others graze off the wood also.

I have never been over cautious of feeding protein to any of my fish as I figure they can find it in the wild, I just ensure that it is a like protein so I dont feed beef heart mix etc. It is generally shrimp/fish meal based pellets.

[nvcichlids]

Just an tying, those L168s are the same as the L52 I pm'd you about. Are you purchasing the entire lot of L002? If not, I could help you possibly sex them to the best of my a ility. Now I have not done it, but lots of people keep hypans, pecks, a.d panaque together. I want to find some L204 for my tank I am working ons third species.

[krazyGeoff]

I have kept L204 with my breeding L002. They have the same dietary needs, and there was no aggression on behalf of the L204.

Cheers

[MatsP]

I wouldn't keep sexually mature L002 and L204 together, as they are of the same genus, and thus could end up cross breed.

--
Mats