Biz's Bn Pleco Breeding Journal!

So beautiful!! Hoping you have the perfect combo of male and female!

 

Mcasella bizaliz3 so I got these pictures of Larry. What do you think, male or female?

 

Mcasella bizaliz3 so I got these pictures of Larry. What do you think, male or female?
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I'd say a gravid female.

 

Biz, it's been a while since we've heard of them but, how are the starlights doing?

 

Biz, it's been a while since we've heard of them but, how are the starlights doing?

Haha, ya...I kind of keep forgetting I even have them to be honest. LOL I still don't know if I have males and females. None of them have bristles going up their faces like a male would. (lots of bristles lower on the face and lip areas) And I have had them PLENTY long for those to be going up their faces by now if any of them were boys. (1 year and 6 months) So maybe they are all girls :-(

Granted, its been quite a while since I pulled them all out for some good pics. IN fact, I just checked my camera roll...its been 7 months since I took them out for photos!! HOLY COW does time fly!!
I have had them for 1 year and 6 months. So when I did that photo op, they were a year old.

There are only a couple that I see regularly. The others are always hiding. I have terracotta watering spikes as caves in their tanks. And I THOUGHT I had possibly separated them into male and female pairs based on the photo-op from 7 months ago. But...no one was really sure about their genders even at a year old.

Looks like it is time to get all 5 of them out of their tanks and see if I have any better indication of their genders now.

 

Well sheesh. I can’t belive it’s been so long since you’ve had them! Time sure does fly. I’d take them out and check to see what you have gender wise, I’d assume that by now you’d be able to sex them out

 

Well sheesh. I can’t belive it’s been so long since you’ve had them! Time sure does fly. I’d take them out and check to see what you have gender wise, I’d assume that by now you’d be able to sex them out

I know right!! I started keeping track of the dates I acquire fish a couple years ago. So I know it's been exactly 1.5 years for these.

Here's one of the pairs I chose as hopefully male and female. But it's a 7 month old pic

 

I actually started keeping track of dates around last year also! I have an app that I keep track of everything that goes on in my tank.

Those guys are gorgeous! Id say they look like a young pair in that photo so hopefully by now they’re showing their mature traits

 

I actually started keeping track of dates around last year also! I have an app that I keep track of everything that goes on in my tank.

Those guys are gorgeous! Id say they look like a young pair in that photo so hopefully by now they’re showing their mature traits

I was very confident they were a male and female. So...after 7 months together with a perfect spawning cave, I am thinking either they are not a male and female, OR they just don't like the environment?? Maybe my water parameters are not to their liking? I do believe starlights are a bit pickier than regular BNs when it comes to spawning.

I have an app for it all too. I love it! Mine is called "aquarium note".

 

You would think that after 7 months you can tell for sure. It could be the environment? I’ve heard fish don’t like to spawn if they’re not comfortable. If I remember correctly, didn’t they person you got them from have them in a dirty little breed box or something like that?

I have “Aquarimate”. I paid for it over a year ago and I couldn’t be happier. It reminds me on a weekly basis for any water changed, filter cleanings and a lot more!

 

I use a spreadsheet with a few tabs for fish and maintenance info.

 

I really need to get better at documenting when I get fish, dates of spawns, names of plants, etc. Time blends together and before you know it, it is impossible to remember.

 

I really need to get better at documenting when I get fish, dates of spawns, names of plants, etc. Time blends together and before you know it, it is impossible to remember.

If you have an iPhone, I’d recommend Aquarimate. They have a database with a lot but not all, fish, plants and inverts. If it’s not in there, you can add them yourself but for your own record. You can put notes for everything you keep. It’s really a great way to keep track of everything

 

I use the Sharpie app !

 

I really need to get better at documenting when I get fish, dates of spawns, names of plants, etc. Time blends together and before you know it, it is impossible to remember.

The app is a great place to store those dates. When I got the app a couple years ago, there were a lot of fish that I was able to add the acquired date months or even years later by using my camera roll. I also love using it to document all my spawns. And water changes and yadda yadda.
I don't have iPhone, mine is an android app. Aquarium note.

I use the Sharpie app !

BAHAHAHAHA!!!!

You would think that after 7 months you can tell for sure. It could be the environment? I’ve heard fish don’t like to spawn if they’re not comfortable. If I remember correctly, didn’t they person you got them from have them in a dirty little breed box or something like that?

Yes, they were very stunted and way too old to still have been living in a breeder box. None of them are as big as they should be as adults. So maybe their early months affected their ultimate adult size.
I haven't researched breeding them in a while, but I remember it sounding a bit daunting when I was reading about it....like I would have to put in more effort than just throwing in a breeding cave. I'll have to go do some reading again. Maybe I should use a 15 gallon as a temporary spawning tank for them....

 

If you have an iPhone, I’d recommend Aquarimate. They have a database with a lot but not all, fish, plants and inverts. If it’s not in there, you can add them yourself but for your own record. You can put notes for everything you keep. It’s really a great way to keep track of everything

I just looked this up. It is $9.99. I don't usually pay for aps. Is it well worth that?

 

I just looked this up. It is $9.99. I don't usually pay for aps. Is it well worth that?

Mine is free and I love it.

 

Yes, they were very stunted and way too old to still have been living in a breeder box. None of them are as big as they should be as adults. So maybe their early months affected their ultimate adult size.
I haven't researched breeding them in a while, but I remember it sounding a bit daunting when I was reading about it....like I would have to put in more effort than just throwing in a breeding cave. I'll have to go do some reading again. Maybe I should use a 15 gallon as a temporary spawning tank for them....

Maybe that stunting is what’s causing their bristles to grow in a lot slower than normal?

I wouldn’t think that much more would need to be done to get them to breed. It would be awesome if you got a spawn out of these guys and got some to grow properly without the stunting

 

I just looked this up. It is $9.99. I don't usually pay for aps. Is it well worth that?

I don’t usually pay for apps either but I think it’s worth it. It sends notifications for any type of maintenance or feedings that need to be done. You can have an unlimited number of tanks and a lot more.

 

Maybe that stunting is what’s causing their bristles to grow in a lot slower than normal?

I wouldn’t think that much more would need to be done to get them to breed. It would be awesome if you got a spawn out of these guys and got some to grow properly without the stunting

That's a decent theory!!

I am excited to fish them out and get more pics of them and see if they are more sexable now. Its just that the ones I DO see all the time....they look exactly like they did in the photos 7 months ago.

I don’t usually pay for apps either but I think it’s worth it. It sends notifications for any type of maintenance or feedings that need to be done. You can have an unlimited number of tanks and a lot more.

Not to discount your app of choice...but mine has all those features as well, and its free hehe
But still, a one time fee of $9.99 isn't too bad for an app that you use as frequently as one for your aquariums!

I am just not a fan of buying apps.

 

That's a decent theory!!

I am excited to fish them out and get more pics of them and see if they are more sexable now. Its just that the ones I DO see all the time....they look exactly like they did in the photos 7 months ago.



Not to discount your app of choice...but mine has all those features as well, and its free hehe
But still, a one time fee of $9.99 isn't too bad for an app that you use as frequently as one for your aquariums!

I am just not a fan of buying apps.

I have iPhone and your ap is not available..... I will have to think about it.

 

I have iPhone and your ap is not available..... I will have to think about it.

Which is why I will never purchase an apple phone. I hate that they restrict you so much. I feel that way about ALL apple products.
My daughter got a fitbit versa watch for Christmas. And it doesn't do several of the things you can do with it when it is combined with an android vs an iPhone. Why??? Because apple wants to FORCE you to buy their expensive apple watches!

I just hate apple! haha

 

That's a decent theory!!

I am excited to fish them out and get more pics of them and see if they are more sexable now. Its just that the ones I DO see all the time....they look exactly like they did in the photos 7 months ago.

Not to discount your app of choice...but mine has all those features as well, and its free hehe
But still, a one time fee of $9.99 isn't too bad for an app that you use as frequently as one for your aquariums!

I am just not a fan of buying apps.

I’m excited to see what they look like now that’s theyre a little bigger! Maybe since you see them more often, they don’t look like much has change. Pictures will show that a lot more than the eye can I feel.

None taken! Lol free is always good haha. The one time purchase didn’t hurt me so I’m okay with it

 

Which is why I will never purchase an apple phone. I hate that they restrict you so much. I feel that way about ALL apple products.
My daughter got a fitbit versa watch for Christmas. And it doesn't do several of the things you can do with it when it is combined with an android vs an iPhone. Why??? Because apple wants to FORCE you to buy their expensive apple watches!

I just hate apple! haha

My brother is a regional project manager with Apple so I get to take advantage of his "family" discount, lol. Otherwise, I would probably still have an android. And I have actually considered switching anyway because the cameras seem to be so much better. (sorry brother).

 

Which is why I will never purchase an apple phone. I hate that they restrict you so much. I feel that way about ALL apple products.
My daughter got a fitbit versa watch for Christmas. And it doesn't do several of the things you can do with it when it is combined with an android vs an iPhone. Why??? Because apple wants to FORCE you to buy their expensive apple watches!

I just hate apple! haha

I'm not an apple fan either, but my iPad really has no parallel. It's literally my only apple product (well, and the matching pencil, which is really nice too). I refuse to get an iPhone though. lol

 

Late to another bizaliz3 breeding journal...

 

My newest little batch. These guys are good hiders. I counted 10 when first pulled, but only able to find 5 at any given time. Finally got a count of 8 tonight. Hopefully there is at least one more in there. Mom is heterozygous. I am definitely seeing a couple standard fin. She has been hanging with Fabio the male longfin today. Surely the next batch will have more than 10.

 

FYI as a reminder here is mom and dad.

Mom - Buttercup


Dad - Steph

 

My newest little batch. These guys are good hiders. I counted 10 when first pulled, but only able to find 5 at any given time. Finally got a count of 8 tonight. Hopefully there is at least one more in there. Mom is heterozygous. I am definitely seeing a couple standard fin. She has been hanging with Fabio the male longfin today. Surely the next batch will have more than 10.

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Still counts as a spawn. Congrats!!!

 

tfreemahow is your plecos tail that big?!

 

tfreemahow is your plecos tail that big?!

Cuz she got her from me and my plecos rock!! Lol

 

Cuz she got her from me and my plecos rock!! Lol

They do rock to be honest.

 

tfreemahow is your plecos tail that big?!

She is an exceptional pleco with awesome finnage that is for sure! I am in love with long fin plecos. However, my Steph has some great coloring as well.

 

She is an exceptional pleco with awesome finnage that is for sure! I am in love with long fin plecos. However, my Steph has some great coloring as well.

I find it interesting that the theory is a homozygous long fin would have longer fins than a heterozygous long fin. And if she is heterozygous, that implies that those fins could be significantly longer if she were homozygous.

I know that two veil tail genes in angelfish produce super veils. But I am just not sure about the plecos. I have never seen any with fins longer than mine, and mine are all heterozygous. (mostly anyway)

So...if some plecos have fins even longer than mine, I'd love to see it!!

I am in the mood now to post all of my pics that show off the finnage of my plecos. haha Especially the one of the brown guy who looks like he is wearing a ball gown!

They do rock to be honest.

I wasn't trying to toot my own horn or anything. My plecos do have great genes, but they have to be cared for well to maintain those excellent fins. So tfreemadeserves just as much credit!

 

I find it interesting that the theory is a homozygous long fin would have longer fins than a heterozygous long fin. And if she is heterozygous, that implies that those fins could be significantly longer if she were homozygous.

I know that two veil tail genes in angelfish produce super veils. But I am just not sure about the plecos. I have never seen any with fins longer than mine, and mine are all heterozygous. (mostly anyway)

So...if some plecos have fins even longer than mine, I'd love to see it!!

I am in the mood now to post all of my pics that show off the finnage of my plecos. haha Especially the one of the brown guy who looks like he is wearing a ball gown!



I wasn't trying to toot my own horn or anything. My plecos do have great genes, but they have to be cared for well to maintain those excellent fins. So tfreemadeserves just as much credit!

I actually understood all that terminology !

 

Here you go bizaliz3, finally got a picture that maybe you can get a sense of size from. I'm sure you remember how small she was when you shipped her to me. This is her now. That's a fourth of a decent size bell pepper. As you can see, she and the other plecos did a number on it.

 

A recent picture of Stucky. He’s looking pretty good! I got him a pleco cave and he seems to enjoy it

 

bizaliz3, have you ever had a male not show bristles because of a dominant female? I had a green dragon in my 75 gallon with Graham, and I thought it was a female. But when Graham died, it grew larger (very quickly) and started showing bristles. I thought that maybe it was just one of those few females that got bristles around the edge of the lip, but it has a couple starting farther up in the middle of it's nose. It's over a year old, so I would have thought that bristles would have already started before now. Do you have any thoughts? I had been wanting to put this one with Pledge, since I was never able to get him and Graham together, but now it's looking like that's not gonna happen.

 

bizaliz3, have you ever had a male not show bristles because of a dominant female? I had a green dragon in my 75 gallon with Graham, and I thought it was a female. But when Graham died, it grew larger (very quickly) and started showing bristles. I thought that maybe it was just one of those few females that got bristles around the edge of the lip, but it has a couple starting farther up in the middle of it's nose. It's over a year old, so I would have thought that bristles would have already started before now. Do you have any thoughts? I had been wanting to put this one with Pledge, since I was never able to get him and Graham together, but now it's looking like that's not gonna happen.

Hmmm....that is pretty late to have a growth spurt and such dramatic increase in bristles. I have had some late developers....so it could just be that he was a late bloomer. But I also like your theory. It could be totally on point. Mcasella what do you think?

 

Hmmm....that is pretty late to have a growth spurt and such dramatic increase in bristles. I have had some late developers....so it could just be that he was a late bloomer. But I also like your theory. It could be totally on point. Mcasella what do you think?

I've had a couple that went through dramatic changes after a dominant adult was removed from the tank.