water movement with fry in a 10 gallon tank

[JamisonBWolsh]

Hi!

I normally use emperors, but for a 10 gallon tank, they dont make them that small. so I bought the second best filter. The aquaclear 150.

Is there TOO MUCH water flow with a 150 in a 10 gallon tank? When I say water flow.. I mean the flow of circulating water around the tank. I do see small debris (waste algae from the walls of the glass that the pleco fries eats and leaves behind ) flow around the tank. I also have a bubble wall in the 10 gallon... So... what do you think? Too much water movement in a fry tank? fries range from 1/4-1 inch. Before, I just had the sponge filter (which didnt give ANY water movement), but I didnt like how it looked nor the cleaning of the thing. So now I have a bubble wall and a aquaclear 150. Thanks for your help.

[pinballqueen]

I've had fry in rapid-moving water conditions before with no major problems. You might, if you're nervous about the fry getting knocked around, try putting some floating plants in there to break up the current.

I've always had bubble-walls in all of my tanks...no problems there either, I would think...

[JamisonBWolsh]

Thanks....


I am currently breeding my albino bristlenose Plecos and am getting about 25 fries give or take per month. I am putting them in their own 10 gallon tank and plan on selling them when they get bigger to the LFS. I think I should get about $6.00 a peice for them I hope??? Anyways.. thanks for your help!

[Forum221]

What size tank do you use to breed pleco in?

[JamisonBWolsh]

Well, the albino bristlenose breeds in the 20 gallon tank setup. There are 2 females and 1 male in that tank. Also, there is a cave where ONLY the male and female can enter and no other fish. Female lays eggs in that cave. male protects eggs untill they hatch. Then I simply remove the cave and put it in my 10 gallon tank and release the fry. Simple as that.

[Forum221]

Interesting, i have a few common pleco that I would like to breed, is the process te same, and also what do you use to constuct the cave. And one last question, how do you sex your pleco.

Thanks

[JamisonBWolsh]

I dont think its possible to breed the "common" pleco. Remember, they get LARGE and, hence their name, are available easily. If you want to breed plecos, try Albino Bristlenose.

Bristlenose Plecos (generally for all bristlenose's)

Female= No Bristles
Male= Has many bristles on its "nose"

As for the cave, I picked it up at a LFS. ITs basically a "cave" looking structure about 3 inches in diameter and the hole is about 1/2 inches. Perfect for him!
Breed bristlenoses- not many LFS have them and they would buy them at a premium.


Of course, if you get a male and female ZEBRA pleco and breed them, you will be in the $$$!!! they cost about 50.00 for one!
some downsides with them (hence their high price)- Low egg count (i believe 5-10) and they are VERY slow growers! try them!

Bristlenose pleco= up to 6 inches= Loves algae at any size
"Common" pleco= at least a few feet=stops eating algae as they age.

[AMiR UNC]

how big are your breeding pair?

[JamisonBWolsh]

About 2 1/2-3 inches each.... EASY to breed.. Im surprised they arent easily available in the LFS....

Tank mates in a 20 gallon:
9 Serpaes- for "eye candy"
10 syd.Petricolas- hides alot in the tunnels and caves...

[Forum221]

They sound like a facisanating species to breed. I would love to try if I could get a hold of some. If not, mabye I could possibly buy some off you?

[JamisonBWolsh]

If your live near Los angeles, Then I would be glad to give you a few. I never shipped fish through the mail before, so I am not interested in that. HOWEVER, try all your local LFS and see if any could order them..they should be able to. At the LFS, they go for $10-$15 depending on the LFS.

Do a search on www.google.com and type in Albinoi bristlenose you will get many pics of them...

some pics:
http://hem.bredband.net/maxstr/fish/albino_bristlenose.htm
http://www.cichlidlovers.com/a_bushynose_a.htm

in that second website, the male has MANY bristles. This must look like a FULL grown adult male! my male has only a few SMALL bristles...

[wayne]

For raising fry, yes you can have too much water movement. Killifish, betta , gourami or tetra fry for examples would be sucked in and killed by that much waer movement, hoever for bristlenoses I don't think it's unreasonable. I'm growing out about 60 in a 30 litre pumping 400l per hour. Note I'm also doing twice daily water changes of 25 %. I do turn the filter off when I feed though for 10 mins to let food settle.
I think breeding common plecs would be hard work and not worth the bother - if you can breed commons you could try something more 'lucrative'. Commons just get too big.
10 -15 dollars for albino bristlenose - wow - 5 or 6 dollars here ,the same as brown!

[Forum221]

I have already checked with a few LFS and none of them have any bristlenose, all they have is common pleco. Right now I am clearing out a 20l and a 10gal so they would be perfect for breeding them. But I'm also thinking of breeding Convict Cichlids. But I will get back to you if i decide to give it a try. Also, how soon do you think untill you will some extra Plecos to sell?

[JamisonBWolsh]

do you live near LA? I have 10 1 inch babies. also 20 1/4 inch and about 15-25? newborns (newly hatched)....

LA=Los angeles, Ca.. I live in the san fernando Valley in mission hills

[slipknottin]

CA? I thought you were from PA?

[Forum221]

No, I'm actually near Chicago so you would have to ship. You said you have never shipped before. I haven't either so i'm probably not the person to ask.

[JamisonBWolsh]

Naw... I lived in upstate ny all my life and about 3 years ago... moved to California.. before I lived in california, I lived in Orlando, FL for one year. Before that....well I went to college in Pittsburgh, PA for 3 years and graduated.. before that..well high school in upstate NY... thats it though.