New L046 Zebras for my collection

I just added 4 zebras to my collection. They are 1.5" just arrived today and they are in QT for now. I just got to figure out if I start a new tank for zebras and some other compatible fish not in the Plecostomus family.

 

Considering the Zebra's usual high price, might be a good idea to stay away from Cichlids or toothy Tetras.
Maybe include the Zebras in a community tank of colorful. peaceful mid sized schoolers such as Denison Barbs "my favorites" or a variety of Rainbows.
Nice looking Zebras.

 

Yes zebras are hard fish. Get them from Monster? I had them 30yrs ago. Big money than $25. Cost more than discus. I see they’ve went up in price!!! Good luck with them.

 

I got them from TFK Aquatics from Facebook. They bought 3 pairs of my Pitch Black Rams so we did a little bartering and some cash. They sell them for $150 each 5 for $600, I got a little better price.

Yes zebras are hard fish. Get them from Monster? I had them 30yrs ago. Big money than $25. Cost more than discus. I see they’ve went up in price!!! Good luck with them.

 

Expensive fish. You may want to touch base with coralbandit he had them a few years back may have more info on them.

 

Expensive fish. You may want to touch base with coralbandit he had them a few years back may have more info on them.

Maybe coralbandit will chime in.

 

I had them and kept them in sp. only tank. Maybe rams ?
At 1.5 inches you have 2 years of growing at least before they breed, I believe.
They share same temp as discus and rams so they would be perfect with them IMO.
They are carnivores mostly so good scavengers for discus and rams.
You may have 2 pair there. Nice !

 

Most likely they will be in a tank on their own. I will be getting some more to have better chance at the end. I don't mind waiting for maturity they are beautiful looking fish.
Way to expensive to get older ones. If I remove my trio of ABN's from my Discus pair tank might consider putting in that tank. Got to think about it.

I had them and kept them in sp. only tank. Maybe rams ?
At 1.5 inches you have 2 years of growing at least before they breed, I believe.
They share same temp as discus and rams so they would be perfect with them IMO.
They are carnivores mostly so good scavengers for discus and rams.
You may have 2 pair there. Nice !

 

Okay, hello. I want those fish too. They actually need tetras, to help make them feel more comfortable because when they don't see fish above them, they think, imma hide from that scary predator. Also, feed them a higher protein diet than other plecos with a small amount of vegetable stuff, because they're opportunistic predators.

 

Okay, hello. I want those fish too. They actually need tetras, to help make them feel more comfortable because when they don't see fish above them, they think, imma hide from that scary predator. Also, feed them a higher protein diet than other plecos with a small amount of vegetable stuff, because they're opportunistic predators.

They are in a 6-gallon QT cube for now and I have 3 more on their way. Afterwords they will go on a larger tank with some other fish for company so the feel more at home. I don't think Tetras will survive the temperature that I am keeping them 86 F. But if I drop to 84 F some Rummy nose will be ok or my black rams will do I have plenty of those. I am feeding some Omnivore gel food, frozen blood worms and Baby Brine shrimp. They have been eating well. They also get some veggies. I will be building up my colony slowly due to the cost of the zebras. I have to sell more Pitch Black Rams to offset my cost.

 

Kinda made themselves at home in the QT tank.

 

Very funny pic! They look like they’re on vacation! That purple thing on top of the hotel a water slide?

 

Very funny pic! They look like they’re on vacation! That purple thing on top of the hotel a water slide?

Manzanita wood slide. I just put in the tank one of my PBR's pairs for company since they are small juvies, but 5 min later the PBR's spawned on the slate edge.

 

Well that just proves it!! Now your serving them PBRs (Pabst Blue Ribbon) probably playing country music too .


On a side note those zebras are pretty big. They look like about 3”? Did you get them that size?

 

Well that just proves it!! Now your serving them PBRs (Pabst Blue Ribbon) probably playing country music too .


On a side note those zebras are pretty big. They look like about 3”? Did you get them that size?

They are about 2" they just look big in the pictures. But the way they are eating at an accelerated metabolism due to the high temp (86F) they will grow a little faster. I feed twice a day and they clean up pretty good.

 

Manzanita wood slide. I just put in the tank one of my PBR's pairs for company since they are small juvies, but 5 min later the PBR's spawned on the slate edge.

View attachment 871408

That is wonderful!
I had a customer in California near my beginning of breeding who ordered 3 pairs of EBRs to induce breeding of his zebras.He recieved my EBR and placed them with his zebras.His faith in my fish was true.The next week he sent me pics showing where the EBR had just laid eggs. He said he did not expect that so quick.
He sent pics the next day of his first spawn of the zebras!! The eggs were in the tube right closest to where the EBR laid their eggs!! He said he did not expect that so fast either.
You got a real good thing going IMO.
Keep it up man, I am enjoying what you do.

 

That is wonderful!
I had a customer in California near my beginning of breeding who ordered 3 pairs of EBRs to induce breeding of his zebras.He recieved my EBR and placed them with his zebras.His faith in my fish was true.The next week he sent me pics showing where the EBR had just laid eggs. He said he did not expect that so quick.
He sent pics the next day of his first spawn of the zebras!! The eggs were in the tube right closest to where the EBR laid their eggs!! He said he did not expect that so fast either.
You got a real good thing going IMO.
Keep it up man, I am enjoying what you do.

The PBR's spawned not the zebras they are to young. I had to take the pair of rams out, they were getting to aggressive with the zebras. The other 3 zebras should be shipping from Florida today.

 

The PBR's spawned not the zebras they are to young. I had to take the pair of rams out, they were getting to aggressive with the zebras. The other 3 zebras should be shipping from Florida today.

From the picture you posted earlier , there are exactly 3 empty condos waiting for them!

 

From the picture you posted earlier , there are exactly 3 empty condos waiting for them!

They have reservations after they QT separately.

 

Too bad no PBRs for the new guys! Guess you’re late you lose.

Oh and I call dibs on baby plecos!!

 

Too bad no PBRs for the new guys! Guess you’re late you lose.

Oh and I call dibs on baby plecos!!

It's going to be a wile but you got it.

 

Isn't 84 and 86 degrees like, no difference really? I would never personally keep rummy-nose in temps higher than 82 unless I was trying to breed them.
I'm probably not going to keep Zebra plecos after a little bit of discussion in my thread.

 

Isn't 84 and 86 degrees like, no difference really? I would never personally keep rummy-nose in temps higher than 82 unless I was trying to breed them.
I'm probably not going to keep Zebra plecos after a little bit of discussion in my thread.

I would not keep them at 86 F for ever only for grow out or when old enough to breed. So in that period they will be alone.

 

So they arrived!!

So let's unbox them.

Nice professional package great place to deal with Thanks Rodrigo!!



So far so good.



Looking great water 82 F 3 heat pads.



Live and heathy looking.



Measure 1.5" like I asked.






In the QT.






Improvise my new caves are due tomorrow from Amazon.

 

Very nice!! But this thread should’nt be allowed! Now you’ve got me wondering!!

 

Very nice!! But this thread should’nt be allowed! Now you’ve got me wondering!!

It's contagious, are you getting the itch?

 

I’d have to find them locally. 1 place had them recently. Lots I’d need to do before. It’s tempting! But I had them years ago when they were $25 and they only lived about a year.

 

I’d have to find them locally. 1 place had them recently. Lots I’d need to do before. It’s tempting! But I had them years ago when they were $25 and they only lived about a year.

It's crazy the prices they want. Discus Madness has them 1.2" for $139 and that is a fair but high price. The 3" males are $395 wow. Also they don't sell wild caught anymore since it's an endangered species so all tank raised.

 

Wow those are stunning! And I’m not a fan of plecos, but I feel like a need 1 or 2 of these haha

 

Yeah mine were wild back then. The place Monster aquarium had them for $118 recently.

 

Yeah mine were wild back then. The place Monster aquarium had them for $118 recently.

Now they have them for $164.

 

I got mine from DM when I had them.
They were good quality fish IMO.

 

These are the original 4 that I took out to clean the tank. Wile I was at it I measured them.

 

Where to start, well from the beginning. I really like my Zebras so I decided to get a tank for them and maybe some temperature and temperament compatible roommates. So I found a Coralife BioCube 32 in FB marketplace good price. I take it home I guess I did not look at it very carefully since the glass was scratched. I think he went to town with the razor blade. Then I took some measurements it was not the 32 it was the 29 upgraded lighting.
Ok spent some more money and bought at a great price the 32 on Amazon and at some point I will work on fixing the scratches if it's possible.

So here it is water testing and cleansing the new tank.










Here is the dilemma now substrate I have on hand black sand like my two 75 g tanks or river rocks. They say river rock are good for plecos in general and an all black tank with dark slate just docent do it.

 

Now cycling the tank it should go quick I used a full sponge from my FX4 that been running for over a year. Last time I did this it took a couple of days. Also for no desired on river rocks.

 

I just added 4 zebras to my collection. They are 1.5" just arrived today and they are in QT for now. I just got to figure out if I start a new tank for zebras and some other compatible fish not in the Plecostomus family.

Oh my word congrats they are adorable! L046 those seem to be so hard to get! Who did you manage to get them from? (if you don't mind sharing, if you do then did regard the question)

 

Oh my word congrats they are adorable! L046 those seem to be so hard to get! Who did you manage to get them from? (if you don't mind sharing, if you do then did regard the question)

I got 4 from TFK Aquatics from FB but he is out of stock. The other 3 from La Paz Aquatics.

La Paz Aquatics – Shop online great to deal with you can also look at my post on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/366177993451964/permalink/5840186182717757/

 

Now cycling the tank it should go quick I used a full sponge from my FX4 that been running for over a year. Last time I did this it took a couple of days. Also for no desired on river rocks.

View attachment 872922

I had meant not decided on river rocks. Not convinced that I like the look or how easy is it to clean. They are a bit big, but they are smooth. Still cycling so I can always change my mind. Maybe BB and I like sand but with the wave maker will move it around to much. I had tested it with the black sand (no go) but the pool filter sand might be heavier. This is the time to make up my mind, so I don't disturb the tank later.

 

Ok a quick change of substrate to filter sand. I am getting more for a thicker base. Once finished cycling I will add some rocks and caves. fish come last and then to find others capable of at least 84F. Right now they are at 86 F to accelerate their metabolism and get a faster growth. They eat very well.

 

Fish are next when the temperature is there,