blue_sable

does any one know where i might find some for sale? they can not be imported in to the states. so i need a dealer that has them already in the states so please let me know if possible and how much they would sale for and i would have to see a picture to make sure that they are the right ones as well. would also be helpful to know the honesty of the seller as well. no offense.

FL CommunityFans

They usually sale for several hundred dollars at minimum. No one I am aware of on the forums has a breeding pair, or access to anyone willing to sell them at, what I would call, a reasonable rate.

COBettaCouple

You can sometimes find young L046s for sale on ebay or aquabid.

Butterfly

I wasn't aware they couldn't be imported into the US, why not?
http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...shp&1207700786
They are sure beautiful little fish. I understand it takes two years for them to get to breeding maturity.
Carol

Butterfly

I always check the feed back on the sellers at Aquabid, it just makes good sense.
The problem isn't not being able to import into the US it's as you said in your email that they can't be exported from their natural habitat because of their numbers being depleted so from harvesting and habitat destruction. That is happening to a lot of fish species.
The ones going extinct are the very ones we need to be raising in our tanks to preserve.
Carol

COBettaCouple

Very true! That's why I'd love to get some of them to raise. I love to raise and breed fish endangered or extinct in the wild. It's obviously not a quick money maker with the L046s, but I'm going to get some one of these days.

blue_sable

i would have to strongly agree i have several tanks in my home many sizes as well. i find it sad that people dont give a (well you know). when they spawn they only lay 7-15 eggs each time so you know how hard it has to be for them to just try and keep up as it is, and now all this

COBettaCouple

Yea, I love our little Ameca Splendens even if we never made big money on their fry.

angelfish220

there is a site dedicated to them....... its pick up only though,........But I dont know where you live......it has a huge waiting list....well here ya go

http://brianstropicals.com/ohio_tropical_fish.html

Butterfly

There is so many really interesting articles out there on these little plecos. A few of them are-
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=32297
http://www.plecofanatics.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=32295
They even have their own special website
http://www.zebrapleco.com/
On the right of their home page is the number bred in captivity (4665)
Current captive spawns to date (594)
and number of registered breeders (59)
They along with plecofanatics.com and planetcatfish.com do a fantastic job getting information out on this and other plecs fight for their lives.
Most people who know me know I love my Plecs and Loaches and so will champion any needing help
Ok stepping off the soap box LOL
Carol

COBettaCouple

You know Carol.. they'd make a great birthday gift..

Butterfly

Yep they sure would- mines in Oct
Carol

COBettaCouple

Well mine's in August..

Coryd55

Mines in Dec haha. they are such beautiful plecos. I wish I could get some but they are incredibly expensive.

COBettaCouple

Yea, the species needs help and breeders that are more interested in them not going extinct than making quick profit (which doesn't happen anyway) but unfortunately they aren't as affordable as the ameca splendens. Someday though, we'll get some and raise them. And when they get to breeding age, we can sell some, but also do a lot of exchanging stock with other L046 breeders to help build more healthy captive bloodlines.

chickadee

http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/aucti...sp&Zebraplecos


The prices involved are huge but if one wants a group of three (1 male and 2 females) for $2100.00 and then pay $450.00 shipping and handling to get them I would think since it says that they ship to the US it is possible to get them.

Rose

steveangela1

This sounds like an interesting species of fish to get involved w/. My husband and I have gotten interested in certain cichlids for the fact that they are extinct or near extinct in the wild, and the only ones that do exist are the ones that the aquarium hobbyist keep. So that makes the aquarium people part of the conservation effort for those fish.... That intriques me to read this about the zebra pleco now!
I want a pair!

Toppcats

Hello - I was doing a bit of internet reading regarding the L-46 Zebra Plecos and saw the forum thread here with the posted questions.

I have managed to acquire a colony of 12 of the L-46 Plecos over the past two years, from three different sources. Of the many fish I have worked with over some thirty years - the L-46 are without question, my favorite. The acquisition of these fish IS the hard part, BUT - before you run out to take the plunge - there are some questions and issues that you need to address and consider first.

Some Background - The L-46 Zebra Pleco comes from ONE area only - a particular section of the Rio Xingu river in the Amazon Basin. There are other 'zebra' Pleco types - but the L-46 is distinct. The section of the Rio Xingu where the L-46 is found is wide (1/2 mile)/deep (up to 60 feet)/very strong fast moving current/very clean AND WARM water (28-32C)/pH 6.5/GH2/KH4 with a high oxygen content. The area is rocky, sandy, with little river vegetation. The river walls are pocked with natural caves where the L-46 make their home.
- Note already that MOST if not all of the usual fish you have will NOT tolerate these conditions! (I have tried to acclimate other fish into these conditions - without real success). The L-46 can be adapted into the more traditional habitat of other tropical fish - but it is not the best if you want the fish to thrive and/or breed.

Brazil banned the general EXPORT of the L-46 zebra pleco species I believe about 4-5 years ago. This was due to the rapid reduction in the numbers of the F(0) (wild) L-46 population as they were taken for export and sale - this really had to be expected since the L-46 has such a limited home area. (They are also very slow growing - and are not mature until approx 3 1/2 years of age). There is one seller on Aquabid - who originally sold out of Germany and now does so out of Turkey - who claims to still be able to obtain F(0) L-46's (A black market source is not an impossibility). I can not personally vouch for this seller - but his feedback appears good and he does appear to offer escrow protection. Prices are exorbitant - and you would be buying a black-market item (if they are truly F(0)) - but if you must have an F(0) group - they appear to be available.
**Regarding import - unless something has changed - they are perfectly legal to buy/own/ship L-46 Plecos into and throughout the U.S. (If someone here knows this is specifically different - please post that as it differs from my info). The ban is at the export level in Brazil and does not extend to the US as they are not classified as endangered. A problem for the L-46 is that while Brazil wrestles with the export ban issue -development is starting to encroach upon the L-46 habitat area. A real concern for the hobbyists who love these plecos is that their habitat niche will be destroyed or altered via any nearby development - while hardy, the wild L-46 population could quickly become a truly endangered species. This is one of the major reasons that a network of people breeding the L-46, and the specific websites you noted above, have evolved.

Currently - an adult pair costs approx $1000-1200
- a proven breeder F(0) female alone recently . sold for $1350.00
- juveniles vary in cost depending on size -I believe that most suggest waiting until the fry reach at least 1 1/2 inches in size before subjecting them to shipping. Juveniles typically run $250-400 each ( I have seen them priced both lower and higher).

Aquarium size - 30 gallon is probably minimum one should consider for a 'dedicated' colony tank.
Also consider that some special equipment/setup is needed for an ideal and thriving colony.
A cave setup of some type - plan to allow for one cave per male ( the good news here is that these setups typically give great character and a natural beauty to the tanks appearance). The cave structure is where the zebra spends most of their time (note that the water flow described below is not directed at-but runs past the cave area.)
High filtration rate filters. - with return spraybar to maintain surface agitation
OXYGEN DIFFUSER - really a requirement. This is a warm-water tank which means less available diffused oxygen for a fish species which desires a high oxygen water content (at least 6ppm)and higher nitrate production (this is also why the other species of fish do not thrive in these conditions).
Powerheads - needed to create a river-like water flow and adds to the tank aeration.

Also - These fish grow and acclimate slowly to some conditions (changes don't overtly bother them - but if they are breeding them and some parameter changes, it can be weeks to months before they might return to breeding behavior).

So, if you are looking to try this to make a quick buck in the market with fry - you will be disappointed. Most L-46 breeder hobbyists seem to get their first success only after 2-3 years (occas sooner but for some 3 years+).

The good news! Once you make the decision and take the plunge - Once you have your set up/once you have your colony - it is ALL GOOD!!.
This is an interesting, albeit shy, species which everyone seems to gets hooked on once started. Adults are 3-4 inches in length. For the most part - they are an extremely peaceful community fish. Reported fights are rare and typically over territory and are intra-species (on occasion though, deaths have been reported).
I bought from three different breeders to improve, as much as possible, the genetic mix. I bought 9 juveniles and 3 fully grown adults. All have gotten along well from day 1.
This fish is VERY hardy (to date ALL 12 are alive and appear to be thriving). I have had to deal with columnaris and callumanus from other fish introduced to this tank. The zebras never seemed to be affected and the tank treatments never seemed to bother them either.
This fish is an active eater - they take almost anything given. They are actually carnivores (very little plant matter in their natural habitat) but they supposedly love treats like zucchini, mushrooms, romaine lettuce. Mine love the carnivore fish pellets, but will take flake, spirulina, algae pellets (they just seem to get more 'revved-up' when they sense the carnivore pellets in the water). Bloodworms are a NO-NO for non-adults as there a multiple reports of deaths here due to choking/throat blockage
Although pH 6.5 is preferred - they 'thrive' and have been bred throughout the 6.5-7.5 range.
Frequent water changes are suggested to keep nitrates down (warm water issue again). (I have to admit that the plecos do seem unphased if water changes are skipped because one is busy and forgets - but the frequent water attention is really in the plecos best interest).
Soft water is preferred but many have been bred using treated tap water (many do use R/O water for water replacement). There are also reports that some fry seem to do better in harder water environments as there is a syndrome that has been noted by some breeders with fry bloating and then dying which appeared to resolve if the water was made 'harder' (some type of osmoregulation problem does appear to affect some of the fry of this species in soft water).
Breeding is interesting. Getting the 'first' tank brood is usually difficult and often requires some 'trick' (like simulating their rainy season by adding a cold 'rainwater' water change, adding a powerhead to increase the current, turning off the heater for a couple of hours (then allowing the temperature to go back to normal, taking flash pictures of the tank (to simulate lightning!). Reportedly once a brood is obtained - breeding seems to then occur almost vigorously. Courtship behavior is often reported out in the open. Females approach a male in his cave; if all goes well then the male lets the female into the cave and 'traps' her for several days with release only after eggs are laid. The male usually husbands the eggs for at least a few days. The fry spend about 10 days with their yolk-sac but they grow very quickly at this time and are small replicas of the adults after only about 3 weeks. Small fry food is usually readily accepted. Most L-46 owners say that just when they give up the idea that they will ever see a spawn occur - fry are found. Overall - it seems a positive for the L-46 that once well established they do seem to breed well.

BTW - because the tank takes a bit of extra work - it 'looks' it! A little personal artistic work in designing your cave structure along with the needed water currrent/aeration setup all give the tank a special character and 'feel' which is unique to this species .

Hope this helps!!
Can post or e-mail if there are questions.

Regards