Bristlenose Pleco Breeding Diary

[Jessielee83]

I am new to breeding these guys so I will post my experiences throughout my journey and hope others will chime in. I have read other breeding journals on here and they have been very helpful and informative. As of now I have a confirmed breeding pair of albinos. They have had 2 spawns so far. 1 is 4 weeks old now and the other about a week. All offspring are albino no commons. My main concern is should I cull? And at what age and what am I looking for. Somthing to think about. I also have a unconfirmed pair of lemon blue eyes that I am in the process of trying to breed. I have only had them for a little over a week so nothing yet but they are dancing around each other lol. I am growing out some longfin lemons to hopefully add to the program as well as some longfin super reds that are being grown out and will hope to have a breeding pair or trio. If you have any advice tips or tricks or just want to come along for the ride follow along. Thanks!

 

[MrBryan723]

Cull your males, they demand decent prices at your lfs if they buy fish. Keep your breeding stock males as they will mate multiple females and so are more important to keeping designer looks. Try not to inbreed as much as you can.

 

[Jessielee83]

Cull your males, they demand decent prices at your lfs if they buy fish. Keep your breeding stock males as they will mate multiple females and so are more important to keeping designer looks. Try not to inbreed as much as you can.

Ok to make sure I am understanding you I should cull males to sell not cull as in uethenize(sp) them correct? Because they get more from the lfs and keep some females for new blood? My concern was that should I cull for anything specific. Like I know deformaties should be but anything else? As of right now they all look normal. Some are growing faster than others from same spawn but I don't think that is a concern?

 

[angelcraze]

Congrats on the breeding plecos! I like your diary idea

Growing at different rates is normal and I personally have never come across deformity issues with BN plecos.

Ime, when they reach a certain age (maybe teenage years), I noticed I have to move the males because they fight. Would be a better idea to bring them to the LFS or rehome.

Good luck!

 

[MrBryan723]

If you watch your genetics you shouldn't have many issues with deformations. But if you do, you have the option to try and breed it and make new designer fish, or euthanize it, or let it live a happy life without breeding.
Really you want to keep a few different generations around for breeding instead of buying new. Like it's ok to breed 4th cousins but not first cousins or parents/siblings, that's where we get the deformations and sick fish from.
You should sell your culls if you can as a first option, just for business sake.
Size difference is pretty normal.

 

[Jessielee83]

Congrats on the breeding plecos! I like your diary idea

Growing at different rates is normal and I personally have never come across deformity issues with BN plecos.

Ime, when they reach a certain age (maybe teenage years), I noticed I have to move the males because they fight. Would be a better idea to bring them to the LFS or rehome.

Good luck!

Thanks! Although I can't take credit I first saw others diaries(shout out to bizaliz and tfreema) and was feeling froggy so started my own lol. And thanks for your input seperating makes sence around that time. Do you find that even at 4 weeks old the bigger ones may be male and grow faster? Or is it just a thing where some are cows and eat all the time haha

 

[angelcraze]

Btw, did they spawn in that little clay cave? I can only tell the difference when they start to grow bristles on the snout and the females are gravid. But I do tend to hold onto the babies too long. They are just so cute!

I'd say about 6 months before I can sex them for sure, but males are slightly longer with a longer snout. Really hard to tell the difference in juvies. On top of that, I read sometimes hormones in the water inhibit other males from developing bristles to protect the alfa male. I sold 4 "females" to someone only to realize I accidentally caught a male who didn't express his bristles yet because he got babies 10 days later!

 

[Jessielee83]

If you watch your genetics you shouldn't have many issues with deformations. But if you do, you have the option to try and breed it and make new designer fish, or euthanize it, or let it live a happy life without breeding.
Really you want to keep a few different generations around for breeding instead of buying new. Like it's ok to breed 4th cousins but not first cousins or parents/siblings, that's where we get the deformations and sick fish from.
You should sell your culls if you can as a first option, just for business sake.
Size difference is pretty normal.

Thanks sir! It all makes sense. And that's how you spell it!! Lol. Like I said just starting out so had to get initial stock and yes hoping to grow some babies out and incorporate them into the system. Still a ways away from that yet though. Have to get in touch with some lfs around me and see what they say. I just wanted to let them get bigger and older before I do that.

 

[Jessielee83]

Btw, did they spawn in that little clay cave?

If you are talking about the first pic yes. Those are the lemons but I had the albinos spawn in the same thing. I have 6 of them so dad albino (red) is his name is still with his. They are ceramic(clay) watering spikes. Saw them on some youtube vids and a lot of people use them. Perfect size and they seem to love them. Can find on amazon for I think about $20 is what I paid for box of 6.

 

[Jessielee83]

Btw, did they spawn in that little clay cave? I can only tell the difference when they start to grow bristles on the snout and the females are gravid. But I do tend to hold onto the babies too long. They are just so cute!

I'd say about 6 months before I can sex them for sure, but males are slightly longer with a longer snout. Really hard to tell the difference in juvies. On top of that, I read sometimes hormones in the water inhibit other males from developing bristles to protect the alfa male. I sold 4 "females" to someone only to realize I accidentally caught a male who didn't express his bristles yet because he got babies 10 days later!

Lol. Yes ive heard of that happening. The less dominate males don't show bristles until away from alpha. What kinds do you breed? Pics? More than welcome to share I love babies

 

[angelcraze]

If you are talking about the first pic yes. Those are the lemons but I had the albinos spawn in the same thing. I have 6 of them so dad albino (red) is his name is still with his. They are ceramic(clay) watering spikes. Saw them on some youtube vids and a lot of people use them. Perfect size and they seem to love them. Can find on amazon for I think about $20 is what I paid for box of 6.

That's cool. I built them a big underground cave and it works, but I guess I didn't need something so big lol. My other tank has a little coconut cave, but they lay their eggs under a piece of driftwood anyway haha! I read a cave with one opening is better so the female can't get away once he coaxes her in there.

 

[angelcraze]

Lol. Yes ive heard of that happening. The less dominate males don't show bristles until away from alpha. What kinds do you breed? Pics? More than welcome to share I love babies

I only have albino and brown. I'm not trying to breed them, they just do. Not complaining tho! Thinking about some different morphs though I have this recent pic and a close up pic of a juvie brown pleco

 

[Jessielee83]

That's cool. I built them a big underground cave and it works, but I guess I didn't need something so big lol. My other tank has a little coconut cave, but they lay their eggs under a piece of driftwood anyway haha! I read a cave with one opening is better so the female can't get away once he coaxes her in there.

Lol. Ya these do the trick. I give them 3 of the spikes and there is a reg clay pot and driftwood and coconut but they play musical caves with the spikes and then pic one. They don't like the other things. My lemons are doing the eenie meanie minie caves right now. Just pick one! Lol

 

[Jessielee83]

I only have albino and brown. I'm not trying to breed them, they just do. Not complaining tho! Thinking about some different morphs though I have this recent pic and a close up pic of a juvie brown pleco
View attachment 578616
View attachment 578617

Awe pretty babies! And that is a great pic of the browns. You really should. I'm in love with reds that I just crossed off my list and on my wishlist is green dragons. So they are next haha

 

[Jessielee83]

I have eggs!! I guess the lemons stopped being coy and got down to business. Yay!! Will post pics when they arrive. I'm hoping all lemons but may get a mix so fingures crossed.

 

[Jessielee83]

So a few things in the works...lemons still haven't been let out of cave by dad yet. Will fo a cleaning of that tank and then maybe evict them lol. They should be wigglers by now but may give few more days since they will still have sacks but I noticed with the albinos that the ones that got out sooner were growing better and more "non" color. I also have another male female adult pair of lemons coming in tomorrow! And a green dragon and pineapple coming from mcasella later this week! Woohoo. Been trying to get me a green dragon forever. Thanks!! I put male albino back in with female albino since she was about to explode and didnt want to breed with lemon which is ok but she is still not getting busy with albino which again is ok since I have 2 batches of those already but I wanted to make sure she had that option since she wasn't looking all that happy. I am also in the process of setting up 40 gal long as a grow out tanks for babies. Will be using seeded sponge filters and hob filters and tank water to get it moving faster. Then will need to trap the babies and switch over. Should be good times...not well that's about it. Will keep posted when I see little lemons swimming around

 

[angelcraze]

Congrats on finding a good source! I haven't seen green dragon here yet. Yes, pls keep us updated! I'm here to check it out.

 

[Jessielee83]

Thanks!! Ill keep you posted. Right now I'm trying to find out if lemon dad ate his babies cave had eggs in last week. Moved him cave and eggs all together into separate tank. Just did my water change and tried to tip babies out of cave. Nothing came out. Ive done it before with the albinos and some always get through and come out. So trying to find out if clutch was just real small and he can keep them all in or if he ate them. They should have been wigglers right now and there are no eggs. Sooo when I can get a bettwr look ill know for sure. Grrrr

 

[Jessielee83]

Ok so up daddy lemon must of either ate late stage eggs or newly wigglers. Ugh. Back to the drawing board!

 

[bizaliz3]

Ok so up daddy lemon must of either ate late stage eggs or newly wigglers. Ugh. Back to the drawing board!

That's too bad! I have never experienced that personally. Pleco dads are usually really great dads. I can't say the same about angelfish dads! haha

Maybe the move did it? But I have moved dad/cave/eggs all at once many times with no issues. I wonder why he did that! Maybe they were bad eggs??

I have eggs!! I guess the lemons stopped being coy and got down to business. Yay!! Will post pics when they arrive. I'm hoping all lemons but may get a mix so fingures crossed.

Two lemons will make only lemons. The only way you will get any sort of mix is if each of the lemons ALSO have a recessive albino gene. In which case you would have 25% albino babies too.

. Do you find that even at 4 weeks old the bigger ones may be male and grow faster? Or is it just a thing where some are cows and eat all the time haha

Unfortunately they can take a very long time to sex. Which is why it can be very hard to raise enough to make sure you have your own males and females to keep. I'd say at least 4 months old. Often more than that. And most people bring their plecos to the fish store by then.

Also....regarding the inbreeding stuff....even breeding siblings isn't terrible if you are only doing it for one or two generations. Its when you start doing it over and over again, generation after generation, that it can cause problems. Unless you started with poor quality fish in the first place.....In which case you may see issues right off the bat.

If you read my journal....you'll remember that I did go ahead and breed daughter back to father when going for my lemons. Rather than sibling to sibling. I had read that was a better choice, so I stuck with it. But I have since bred siblings....as have folks here who bought babies from me a year ago (or more) And no issues whatsoever. Now...if we then breed two of their kids, and then two of their kids, and then two of their kids.....then it could become an issue. But again, if the fish are quality fish...breeding siblings for a generation or two isn't awful. Its called LINEBREEDING. Not inbreeding. lol


Anyway, good luck with all your projects!!

 

[Jessielee83]

Hey biz!! Thanks for replies. Ya mcasella was suggesting they might not have been good or since he is young and I'm not sure if new time dad that he may have gotten spooked and ate them. Lol practice makes perfect. And yes I read your loong journal lol. Very informative and I remember you linebred father to daughter. And yes I think you mentioned 2 lemons making lemons. For some reason I still have it in my head that if either had brown parent they would stil be half half. Haha. Are you still doing any breeding? Ever get your starlights to do anything. Poor guys

 

[Jessielee83]

So just an update....lemons still not doing squat. So still working on them. Albinos are now in their own tank and they haven't had another clutch yet which is ok still working on growing out the 2 batches I have. Babies are getting bigger. They will be moving to a 40 long for gtow out in a week or so. And also a shout out and a big thanks to mcasella for my beautiful green dragon baby!! He runs so when I can catch him I will get a pic up on here. So that's about it for now.

 

[Jessielee83]

So yay!! I got him. Like everyone else I had to ninja flip across the room to catch him. Here is draco

 

[Jessielee83]

Well albinos are at it again. Grr. But on a side note looks like lemons are gearing up for some activity. Cleaning caves and whatnot. So fingers crossed!

 

[Jessielee83]

Ok so albino eggs were no good. And that's prob why I saw them scatyered all over the tank. I'm wondering if its cause ahe was holding on to them so long. But that's ok and there were a ton this time so see what happens next time. Lemona are still nothing. Thinking of switching the males out and see what happens. Hmm maybe give til the weekend. Will let ya know!

 

[Jessielee83]

Well I finally have lemon eggs!! Woohoo! Other females circling the cave so will give a few days and see if he will let either of them in too. If not I will move him and babies into breeding tank and move other male in with females. Now need to get my albinos a tad bigger so I can move them out to new homes and make room in grow out tank. Prob a month or so. Keep you all posted

 

[CheshireKat]

need to get my albinos a tad bigger so I can move them out to new homes

Yes, I'm waiting! Grow, little fellas!

 

[Jessielee83]

Lol they are growing. I have a few that are bigger than others so keeping eyes on those and they are yours

 

[Jessielee83]

Ready for our close ups!!

 

[Sheldon13]

View attachment 587527
Ready for our close ups!!

So adorable!

 

[Jessielee83]

They are! Thanks. Cant wait to see how many more in with dad. And waiting for other females to pay attention to other male.

 

[Jessielee83]

Well the rest have been evicted from the cave. Best estimate is about 50- 60 babies! pics are of 2 differant clumps

 

[Sheldon13]

It’s so funny how orange they are when they are babies!

 

[Jessielee83]

Lol ya that is mostly due to their egg sacks. Big orange balls. Should be more lemony in a cpl days after sacks gone to weeks as they grow. First time with lemons so whos to say. Also waiting to see eyes. Right now they are black and I think it takes cpl weeks for blue to show up. Excited to see!!

 

[Jessielee83]

Lemon blue eye babies and daddy hades

 

[angelcraze]

So cute, so awesome, congrats! So is daddy's name Hades or is he hiding (typo)? I must say, he has quite the snout lol!

 

[Jessielee83]

So cute, so awesome, congrats! So is daddy's name Hades or is he hiding (typo)? I must say, he has quite the snout lol!

Thanks! No its hades. I have for lemons ,zues and athena, hades and seph (persephone)sp ,and paradise my lf lemon lol. Real original I know. And yes he is quit the looker

 

[Jessielee83]

Well the lemon babies are now 5 weeks old. Growing and little piggies. Always eating somthing. They didnt leave this dish of spirulina jello I made for 2 days until it was gone! Even the 2 little mystery snails got in on the action.

 

[Sheldon13]

Spirulina jello! Just algae powder and gelatin?

 

[Jessielee83]

Spirulina jello! Just algae powder and gelatin?

Yup. Hot water unflavoted gelatin and spirulina powder. They love it!

 

[Jessielee83]

Yup. Hot water unflavoted gelatin and spirulina powder. They love it!

If you ever made repashy its almost like that in consistency and cheaper lol

 

[Sheldon13]

You could also use locust bean gum instead or gelatin and it would hold its shape better under water

 

[Jessielee83]

Huh. Never heard of it. Where can you get that. And is it safe for all tank creatures.

 

[Sheldon13]

Yep. It’s the congealing ingredient in Repashy. You can get it on Amazon or eBay.

 

[Jessielee83]

Huh. Cool ill have to check it out. Thanks!!

On a side note I believe ill have super red eggs in morning. Honestly I think he is sitting on them now but can't get a good look tonight. Maybe tomorrow!

 

[Sheldon13]

Huh. Cool ill have to check it out. Thanks!!

On a side note I believe ill have super red eggs in morning. Honestly I think he is sitting on them now but can't get a good look tonight. Maybe tomorrow!

I didn’t know they sat on them. Cool!

 

[Jessielee83]

Lol well just about! Bot not technically they dont. He is deff fanning in his cave this morning guess ill see if he come out at all or stay there. Havnt decided if ill let them stay in tank or move cave and dad to hatch tank by a windoe that grows algae. I have my lemons in another one of those. Gives them something to eat at all times. Yay so excited been waiting for these guys to give eggs. Just wish they were my long fins. But that will come soon enough. Sheldon 13 do you do any breeding or what do you keep?

 

[Sheldon13]

Lol well just about! Bot not technically they dont. He is deff fanning in his cave this morning guess ill see if he come out at all or stay there. Havnt decided if ill let them stay in tank or move cave and dad to hatch tank by a windoe that grows algae. I have my lemons in another one of those. Gives them something to eat at all times. Yay so excited been waiting for these guys to give eggs. Just wish they were my long fins. But that will come soon enough. Sheldon 13 do you do any breeding or what do you keep?

I have many tanks, but don’t intentionally breed anything at the moment. My mystery snails have been getting it on and leaving me plenty of pink egg sacs so I’ve been hatching those out. I sometimes breed shrimp but don’t have any at the moment. I’ve never bred fish before. It seems hard to get things just perfect for them to want to breed!

My tanks:
4x male betta
60 gal cycling
20 gal brackish with bumblebee gobies
29 gal with embers, Pom Pom crabs, and devil spike snails
10 gal with blue crayfish and pink ramshorn
20 gal brackish with fiddlers

And several other tanks with feeders like amphipods and daphnia

 

[Jessielee83]

Oh cool. I didnt start put intenionally but once it started had to get more and diff colors lol. Took off from there. Ive recently acquired some mysteries and they have been mating but no eggs yet. In your opinion how long after mating to do find eggs. Still new to them but ive caught big blues little friend a few times playing lol. So just wondering. I have a skittle neo tank. Have had someorange babies and I think my berried blue must of had hers cause seeing little blues around. I don't always have good luck with them but fun to watch. I have some panda guppies getting ready to drop. Green dragons growing out. So just a lot of waiting lol

 

[Jessielee83]

I have super red eggs! Ive been waiting for these guys to get busy. So excited! Cant get pics of eggs but for sure will get some as wiggler or free swimmers whenever dad lets out of cave. I need to move him and cave to hatch/grow tank. Updates will follow. Lemons are almost 6 weeks and almost an inch long. Growing nicely.