Sneaks...

L46 Zebra Pleco Profile

Scientific Name : Hypancistrus Zebra L46
Family : Loricariidae
Common Name : Zebra Pleco, Imperial Pleco
Maximum Length : 10cm / 4"
Origin : Altamira along Rio Xingu, Brazil - A black water river
pH Level : 6.0 - 7.4

Things to note: L46 are hardy fish and require no special conditions to survive other than clean water and good food. That said, the price of the fish is prohibitive and you should consider carefully if you have the adequate knowledge and equipment ready before keeping them. Also, they are extremely aggressive towards conspecifics of similar sizes; adults do not attack juveniles or fries.

Personal comments : The only pleco I'm concentrating on now after keeping hundreds of plecos and almost every species available on the open market, so nuff said. Keeping and breeding zebra plecos represents the apex and nadir of my pleco keeping hobby.

Tips : L46 are easily kept in tropical climates such as Singapore's without need for heaters or chillers.
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Sexual dimporphism / reproduction : Well documented.

Feeding : Like all members of the genus Hypancistrus, the Zebra Pleco is predominantly carnivorous, and often it will also take food remains left behind by tank mates, as well as soft wood.

Behavior in captivity : L46 is not a very sociable pleco, preferring to hide in the crevices of rock and wood furniture all day.

Time to continue the story...

Hi all, to some concerned friends and readers of this blog, no I'm not dead, no I'm still keeping plecos, and yes I will continue to add to this blog from time to time. Will edit my old posts to include new updated information and breeding information. See you around, and leave a comment (and name) on my blog!

Cheers
Sam

Keeping It Going!

It's been a long time! Let me keep this current as we go along :)

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My Tanks / Come as You Are

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Plecos:

Currently: Albino Adonis / L14 / L24 /L25 / L27C Goldline / L64 / L91 / L113 / L114 / L128 / L200(Highfin) / L260 / L273 / Megalancistrus cf. barrae

Departed: L02 / L27 Tocantins / L27SP Thunder Goldline /L47 / L56/ L95 / L114 / L134 / L160 / L177 / L190 / L200 / L203 / L204 / L264 / L282 / 360 / L600 / LDA31 / Veiltail Ancistrus / Xanto

Other Pleco profiles: L253

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Cories: C. arcuatus / C. concolor / C. duplicareus / C. fowleri / C. gossei / C. melini / C. semiaquilus "classic" / C. semiaquilus "Peru Black" / C. sterbai / C. sychri

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Other fishes: "Fire Red" Arowana / Geophagus sp. "Red Head Tapajos" / Datnoides NTT, NGT & IT / Pearl Gourami / Congo Tetra / Ornate Bichir / Senegal Bichir / Betta splendens / Glowlight Danio / Chained Loach / Megalodoras irwini / Potamotrygon schroederi / Red Tail Gourami / Red Polo / Merodontus tigrinus / Jaguar catfish / Clown Loach / Fei Fong / Gulper / Reedfish / Hopla catfish =====================================================

Corydoras semiaquilus

Scientific Name : Corydoras semiaquilus
Family : -
Common Name :
Maximum Length : -
Origin : -
pH Level : -





Things to note: TBU

Personal comments : TBU

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Sexing and Breeding : TBU

Feeding : TBU

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Parancistrus auranticus "Xanto"

Scientific Name : Parancistrus auranticus
Family : -
Common Name : Xanto
Maximum Length : -
Origin : -
pH Level : -

Things to note: TBU



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Scleropages formosus

Scientific Name : Scleropages formosus

Family : -
Common Name : Arowana

Maximum Length : -
Origin : -
pH Level : -


Things to note: TBU



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Behaviour in Captivity : TBU

Potamotrygon shroederi

Scientific Name : Potamotrygon schroederi
Family : -
Common Name : Sakura Ray, Flower Ray
Maximum Length : -
Origin : -
pH Level : -


Things to note: TBU



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Sexing and Breeding : TBU



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Semaprochilodus taeniurus

Scientific Name : Semaprochilodus taeniurus

Family : -

Common Name : Fei Fong, Flagtail Prochilodus


Maximum Length : -


Origin : -


pH Level : -



Things to note: TBU



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Asterophysus batrachus

Scientific Name : Asterophysus batrachus

Family : -

Common Name : Gulper Cat

Maximum Length : -

Origin : -

pH Level : -


Things to note: TBU



Personal comments : TBU



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Feeding : TBU



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Megalodoras Irwini

Scientific Name : Megalodoras Irwini

Family : -

Common Name : -


Maximum Length : -


Origin : -


pH Level : -



Things to note: TBU



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Behaviour in Captivity : TBU

L27SP Thunder Goldline Pleco Profile

Scientific Name : L27SP Royal Panaque

Family : Loricariidae
Common Name : Thunder Goldline

Maximum Length : -

Origin : -

pH Level : -

Things to note: TBU

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Sexing and Breeding : TBU

Feeding : TBU

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6 Months On..

Lots have changed since my last post! My L24 died :( got some new plecos in too, although they're still far from the level of my L24. Will update my pleco profiles soon!

Hierachy

In order of aggression!

1. L24
2. Megalancistrus
3. L14
4. L27
5. Albino Adonis
6. L25Flawed
7. L128
8. L282
9. L25Red
10. L25New
11. L95
12. L200

There is a merry go round in my tank at feeding period, and the fights are mostly won in the order above! No one gets close to beating the L24 when she's in the mood :D

Updated List!

" L273 - 16/8/08
6" L113 - 15/8/08
3" L14 - 11/8/08
3" L14 - 11/8/08
3" L14 - 11/8/08
7" L128 - 5/8/08
3" L260 - 9/7/08
3" L260 - 9/7/08
3" L91 - 2/6/08
10" L24 - 18/5/08
2" L114 - 7/5/08
2" L25 - 14/4/08
2" L64 - 1/4/08
6" L27C - 1/3/08
4" L25 - 15/8/07
4" L200a - 1/8/07
8" Megalancistrus cf. barrae - 1/7/07
4" L25 - 10/3/07
5" Albino Adonis - 27/02/07
3" L25 - 17/12/06

5" L273 - GONE
5" L273 - GONE
2" L18 - 15/6/08 SOLD
3" L47 - GONE
2" LDA31 - 15/1/08 SOLD
5" L27C Thunder Goldline - SOLD
2" L273 fulltail - SOLD
5" L14 - SOLD
2" L14 - SOLD
5" L128 - 10/8/07 SOLD
4" L27 - 14/7/07 SOLD
5" L14 - 7/7/07 SOLD
5" L282 - 2/4/07 SOLD
5" L200 - 21/3/07 GONE
4" L128 - GONE
6" L95 - 1/3/07 SOLD
7" L24 - 17/12/06 GONE
4" L273 black - GONE
2" L25 7 pointer - GONE
3" L002 - SOLD
4" L24 - GONE
2" L134 - GONE
2" L260 - GONE
4" L190 - SOLD
1" Adonis - SOLD

Oh Shite

Yep, that's what I said after seeing the state of my tank. Too much shite since I added that X royal, and as much as I want to keep it with me, now it seems it has to go.

Merodontotus tigrinus

Scientific name: Merodontodus tigrinus
Family: Pimelodidae
Common name: Zebra Shovelnose, Tigrinus catfish, Tiger striped catfish.
Maximum size: 24"
Origin: Brazil (Rio Maderia), Peru and Colombia (Caqueta River)

Things to note:
M. tigrinus is one of the most expensive catfish around, and you need to plan carefully before you get one. That said, it is rather hardy, and you don't need to go to extremes to keep it happy; some shade, slightly acidic water and fresh supplies of food will do.

Personal comments : The reason why M. tigrinus is expensive, is because it is one of the most attractive catfish! Almost always moving, and with beautiful body markings and long tail fringe, it is love at first sight for most hobbyists specialising in catfish.

Tips : If you prefer specimens with straight zebra like markings, choose a small specimen with stripes. Inevitably though, the markings will slant and become a kaleidescope of white against black. A really comfortable tigrinus will even have metallic blue coloration.

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Feeding:
They have similar feeding habits like most of the catfishes. When they're small 2"-6", they can be fed on bloodworms, small feeder mollies and other smaller feeder fishes daily or every other day, once they get to 8"-12" they should take big mollies and other big feeders readily. MP can be train when juvenile.

Breeding: These fish does not bred in captivity.

Behaviour in captivity:
Provide this fish with a minimum 6'x3'x3' tank/pond and a large filter such as a sump tank. As far as water quality goes, they will be fine with a PH between 6.5 to 7.5 and a temperature of 22- 26C, they need plenty of surface water movement and plenty of oxygen in the water. These fish can be housed with fishes such as stingrays, STs, arowanas and etc. Just make sure that they are of equal size or bigger as this cat has large mouth and will eat anything that fits its mouth. If you are keeping more than one in a tank, the tank has got to be big and ensure you provide sufficient rock slabs for them to hide. if not, fights will definitely occur. It is better to have at least 3 and above so that the aggression towards any single fish will be minimized. We find that they adapt well to our local temperature without any need for adjustment. As they are usually found in 'whitewater' environment, pH for this fish should be either neutral or slightly acidic (region of 6.5).The rushing water in its natural habitat provides for water turbulance and high level of dissolved oxygen. It is important to simulate this. In our tank, an internal powered filter provides this (in addition to addtional filtration capacity). Provide shade and hiding place/cave for this nocturnal creature. Lighting should not be overly bright. Take care to provide sufficient turbulance and high dissolved oxygen (an internal power filter is highly recommended). Make sure that your tank is equiped with efficient filtration as the Tigrinus requires well good water condition.

Update!

Sold three fish over the weekend, and bought one. The L25, L91 and the red polo went, while a full orange tail L14 came into my tank. One vice for another? ;)

On another note, the gibbiceps in my top monster tank, is doing a monster job of keeping the tank algae free!! It's amazing what a hungry pleco can do to beautify the whole tank.

I hope to be able to add more profiles in by today, please be patient!

New Acquisitions!

Added in a 8" Megalancistrus and a 10" Megalodoras irwini yesterday. Amazingly excited! I have been searching for a mega this size for ages, and when I chanced upon it yesterday, nothing could have stopped me from getting it!!! The irwini is also impressive, especially the thorns! Dare you to hold it!!

On a side note, my tigrinus has settled down and is swimming around in the tank; no longer at the sides of the tank. There's a lot of cool fish all inside one tank!!!

Updates...

2 and a half months since the last entry... You would think that I've a lot to fill in.... Well yea! Lots have changed!! Revamped to a 4'x2'x1.5' tank for my plecos, and 4'x2'x2' for my "monster" fish! Wee.. Although now I hardly have time even to look at them carefully, they are my babies and always nice to come home and switch on the lights to see them swimming around.

What's in that monster tank?
1 x 10" THRTG
1 x 6" Sakura Ray
1 x 9" Ornate Bichir
1 x 6" polo
1 x 6" Red Tail Gourami
1 x 4" Indonesian Tiger
1 x 3" Indonesian Tiger

What else?
Lost almost all my goldline cories. They cost a fortune and I'm never getting them again!!!