Want to get into pleco breeding, have questions

[coder14]

I currently breed some species of wild betta, and some invertebrates. I would like to try my hand at breeding plecos and would like to know what a easy to breed smaller species of pleco would be. Also do plecos need their own tank to breed?

[Birger]

I feel the best suggestion is to start with a common ancistrus species

Ancistrus cf_cirrhosus

...simple to breed but you go through all the actions needed to move on to some of the more difficult species of pleco...from feeding to realizing how messy a group of these can be this is the way to go...keep in mind not all species of ancistrus are simple.

Birger

[CUPfishhead]

Definately start with common bristlenose (ancistrus). They easy to breed and can be done with a pair in a 10gal tank, or even a community tank. Most have been captive breed and can breed in pretty much any water quality. Good luck!!!

[Zeno]

I suggest to try with a nice Hypancistrus like H. Contradens.
They are easy to breed, and the offspring is good looking and much more limited.
If you start breeding the common ancistrus you will have plenty of fry and it will be difficult to find enough enthusiasts to give them a home.

Greetz, Zeno

[coder14]

Thanks I appreciate the info. What water hardness do good breeders generally keep? Basically I have some large tanks where I raise spawns from mouth brooding bettas. Depending on the species I keep my water around 6.0-6.4 ph and very soft. I was thinking some cool little plecos could help clean up the scraps from fry feedings, and it would be a bonus if they bred.

[Barbie]

In water like that, you could easily work with black water ancistrus sp. I would say L183 or L184 would give you that "fancy" aspect and the most bang for your already soft acidic "buck" . I know there are L183 available in the for sale section and I may have L184 available in the coming month or so as I move things around and decide how many of my juvies I will be keeping to raise up. There really are as many choices as you can have preferences. Good luck with this new project .

Barbie

[coder14]

Thanks Barbie, I might be interested if you have some L184s available. I actually was already looking for L183, I didn't know they were black water, that would be perfect. The H. contradens that were suggested also look like very cool fish. If anyone has any of the three contact me I might be interested in buying, or trading if anyone wants wild mouthbrooding bettas, crystal red shrimp, or endlers.