Zebra Pleco Survey

[fishandforest]

Hi Everyone,

We (Oliver Lucanus, Leandro Sousa and Margaret Kalacska) are carrying out a collaborative study between the Universidad Federal do Para and McGill University to try to understand the importance of Hypancistrus zebra in the global ornamental fish market, especially the history of successful captive breeding and it's role in the number of L046 available in the hobby today.

Below is a link to the survey. We are hoping to reach as many keepers and breeders as possible to have a representative view of the trends in keeping and breeding L046 around the world. The survey is anonymous. Once we have finished the study and published the results we will post them here as well.

https://sciencelive.geog.mcgill.ca/zebrasurvey/

Thank you!

Oliver, Leandro and Margaret

[Jools]

It would be nice if everyone here could take part. Perhaps get the ball rolling by posting that you've done it? Maybe @TwoTankAmin could get us started? Or if anyone has an objection or is unsure; let's discuss it here?

Cheers,

Jools

[TwoTankAmin]

I already filled it out. I am happy to help out in this project. I am probably one of the biggest privacy nuts re the internet you will ever know, and I had no qualms about filling out the survey. If you keep zebras, I urge you to take the time to do so as well.

I also posted on zebrapleco.com what I felt was a bit of a weakness in the study. Most of my success in breeding zebras occurred prior to the start date for information entered into the form. Most of my spawns were from May 2006 and the end of 2010. They slowed after that. I think I have only had two or three zebra spawns in the past 19-12 months. While i still have two groups of zebras, mu attention has been more on the L236 and L173 for the past few years.

The other thing I would love to know is any recent information concerning current population levels of zebras in the Big Bend. I am one of those who believes the fish will become extinct in the wild and that the illegal removals, despite the horrific losses along the way, were the only way to preserve the species on the planet.

I do know there are now many people, both hobbyists and commercial breeders, spawning zebras. For this to have become the case, it had to begin with a number of zebras leaving Brazil illegally.

[bekateen]

Already filled it out.

[Jools]

I agree, most of my data goes back in time more too and concerns the establishment of captive bred stock rather than its continuation. Good to see data being gathered for analysis.

I am uncertain on the data as to the smuggling; I am sure there are losses, but what is the control? What's "normal" (not acceptable, normal). I know the ethics (versus legality) of smuggling fishes has been discussed fully elsewhere in the forum over the years but it would be interesting to know if losses are, for example, double or 110% or whatever. Given the value of the fish, it doesn't make economic sense.


Jools

[ElTofi]

completed from Facebook... but still interessant...

same feeling : my first success with L46 were back in 2003-2007, and I gave up my breeding groupe (not my best idea).

I only came back to zebra last summer, with 3 F2 "out of my own wild fish", that a former customer gave me back. And I found a Swiss breeder not too far from me with a good DNA mix where I could get a dozen of "new" fish.

First batch this last autumn, but not in a proper tank, and the larvae were eaten by Retroculus.

I put the whole group in a specific Xingu L-x tank... Let's wait and see.