Rtessy's Bn Pleco Breeding Thread

Well, this thread is rather premature, but hey, why not?
Got my pair in the mail today! The male is a common longfin who looks fantastic, and is probably 5" with his tail. The female is rather small when compared to him, 2.5-3" total and I'm a tad worried about their size difference.
They're in a 27 gallon QT right now, and the male is chasing the female quite a bit, so I'm adding more decorations to see if that helps. If not, I'll probably divide them for a while. The body sizes of the plecos are pretty similar, as you can see, but the male is still a tad larger.

 

I made some silly little polymer clay caves since the ones I ordered got delayed, lol! Had a spare cave in there and the male has decided it's his now and has so far left the female alone.
My wood got delayed too, as did the plecos (even though they were overnight guarantee :shifty but I'm excited for the fantastic piece I'll be getting later!

 

So the male is pretty splotchy looking and has been, contacted the seller to make sure that was the normal coloring, and he assured me it was
The male hardly comes out of the cave, and when he does, he just goes under the intake then back in a cave. Not super surprised, the bag he came in smelled like death, he's probably just recovering.
The female is doing amazing, eating everything I drop in front of her and just exploring everywhere. She doesn't like going in caves, but she digs in the sand and likes to sit under the caves. She's been hanging out by the male's cave today and I accidentally spooker her and she went in, but the male kicked her out.
Not sure if the male has eaten yet, but I'm hoping he's eating at night.
Not sure if the splotchy makes him a marble pleco, but maybe? Can't get a good pic, it'll be a while.

 

It can be normal or stress coloration depending on the line the pleco came from. I've had dark plecos that displayed it as stress coloring and dark plecos that displayed it as normal coloring when they were comfortable (without anyone needing to hide).

 

Got a pic! First time I've fully seen him since he left the bag. He's got some grey splotches all over, compared it to the pics the seller gave, and he had them there too, so I guess I got worried about nothing

 

I find sometimes my bristlenose gets that splotchy color from time-to-time, sometimes from as innocent things as him reacting to a light flipping on in the middle of the night or I've heard others say it can be because of water changes or the color of the substrate. As long as he is active and eating, it is not out of the norm for them.

 

I find sometimes my bristlenose gets that splotchy color from time-to-time, sometimes from as innocent things as him reacting to a light flipping on in the middle of the night or I've heard others say it can be because of water changes or the color of the substrate. As long as he is active and eating, it is not out of the norm for them.

Thanks! The tank doesn't have lights, I haven't done a water change yet, and I haven't seen him without the spots, so hopefully it's normal. He's still more shy than the female, but he's starting to move around more, and he has a lot of tears in his fins, so maybe he just had an aggressive tankmate before.

 

I love your albino! Such a beauty!

 

I love your albino! Such a beauty!

Thanks! She's also the most active pleco I've seen so far, though most of my pleco experience is limited to stores. She's always moving around the tank 24/7, lol! I ordered their normal food, and it finally came in, so if the male wasn't eating before, he should now! But I'm pretty sure he ate some food last night, and he was out a tad more today

 

Well the male has spent all day, and part of last night, in the funky close ended can I made, and he looks like he's fanning something. Constantly moving his little fins.
So, maybe some eggs? I don't want to disturb him if so, so I'll just wait and see.

 

Well the male has spent all day, and part of last night, in the funky close ended can I made, and he looks like he's fanning something. Constantly moving his little fins.
So, maybe some eggs? I don't want to disturb him if so, so I'll just wait and see.

Take a gentle peak he shouldn't move from them as long as you take it slow lifting.

 

Take a gentle peak he shouldn't move from them as long as you take it slow lifting.

I picked up the tube real slow and looked inside with a flashlight, but I didn't actually see anything. Granted, he's covering a good portion of the tube, hasn't left it, and is still fanning. Guess it's just a wait and see.
He hangs about halfway out the tube when he thinks I'm not around, but scoots all the way in when he realizes I am, but he still hasn't left the cave fully, and it's been almost 24 hours.
If he is fanning eggs (somewhat doubtful), how long will it be until he eats?

 

Aaaand right around the 25 hour mark he has vacated the cave

 

I picked up the tube real slow and looked inside with a flashlight, but I didn't actually see anything. Granted, he's covering a good portion of the tube, hasn't left it, and is still fanning. Guess it's just a wait and see.
He hangs about halfway out the tube when he thinks I'm not around, but scoots all the way in when he realizes I am, but he still hasn't left the cave fully, and it's been almost 24 hours.
If he is fanning eggs (somewhat doubtful), how long will it be until he eats?

Normally they wait until after the fry have hatched/escaped before coming out to eat, some males will dash out, snatch a bite, and dash back into to continue fanning. Some males will take up a cave and fan and pretend to have eggs/fry (the bristles help with this) to convince the female to spawn with him.

 

Normally they wait until after the fry have hatched/escaped before coming out to eat, some males will dash out, snatch a bite, and dash back into to continue fanning. Some males will take up a cave and fan and pretend to have eggs/fry (the bristles help with this) to convince the female to spawn with him.

Huh, that makes sense. He's back in there fanning, but I didn't see any eggs when he dashed out. I do see the female hanging on to the outside of his cave, so maybe his ploy is working, lol.

 

Houston we have eggs!!!
( Sorry for the absolutely crummy pics, the HOB isn't taking care of all the surface film)

 

Can't wait to see their their growth and development!

 

Can't wait to see their their growth and development!

Me neither! I'm so happy I got to breed some, I'm going to have to take a break from the hobby after I move next year, and I want to try my hand at breeding a few things first

 

How does the male move the eggs? I noticed some "disappearing" last night, the ones spilling out the eye of the little skull, then I didn't see any this morning. I lifted it up, and they're all at the innermost part of the cave. Does he use his fins to do that?

 

How does the male move the eggs? I noticed some "disappearing" last night, the ones spilling out the eye of the little skull, then I didn't see any this morning. I lifted it up, and they're all at the innermost part of the cave. Does he use his fins to do that?

Fins and mouth. He also polishes the eggs to keep them clean with his mouth.

 

All the eggs still look good (orange is good, right?) and are still eggs. I covered the intake of the HOB. I'm not expecting them to hatch for a few more days, since my temperature is pretty low, only 74.6, but at least it's stable.

 

Look at all those eggs!

 

Update/may need a bit of help:
BABIES!!! BABIES EVERYWHERE!!! There are around sixty that I can count, and the dad is still fanning something, lol.
Only problem is that most of them are sticking to the sides and top. They seem to be able to move around just fine, but a lot are sticking to the top, which had some pretty heavy protein film despite the HOB. I'll be adding an airstone for extra aeration later. I don't see any around the bottom, they're just chilling at the top. How bad of a sign is that?

 

No issue, most babies I have dealt with go to the top of the container they are in specially once they have hatched, when there isn't a lot of plant cover.

 

I have been feeding my recent BNP babies crushed up dry food that sinks, zucchinI and French cut green beans .
Seems like the easiest fry next to live bearers I have dealt with so far ?
Congrats ! It is great fun to have new experiences.

 

No issue, most babies I have dealt with go to the top of the container they are in specially once they have hatched, when there isn't a lot of plant cover.

Awesome to hear, thank you! I was getting pretty worried!

I have been feeding my recent BNP babies crushed up dry food that sinks, zucchinI and French cut green beans .
Seems like the easiest fry next to live bearers I have dealt with so far ?
Congrats ! It is great fun to have new experiences.

Great, thank you! And I just got some repashy, so I'll feed them some of that once their little eggs sacks are gone. Since the first fish I bred was a pair of wild bettas, I sure hope these guys are easier! I'm really excited to raise them, especially because there's so many!!

 

These are my first BNP also ! They seem very easy so far .
I have been trying in two dedicated tanks but one pair has breed now 2 times in my 180 display tank.I have the male in his tube with eggs #2 in a separated 5 g tank now .
So many is what I thought also although my female is 4 + years with me and maybe 4-5 inches so I thought she just laid a whole bunch.
The two pairs in dedicated tanks have done nothing but frustrate me so far ! Part of the excitement I guess !

 

Awesome to hear, thank you! I was getting pretty worried!


Great, thank you! And I just got some repashy, so I'll feed them some of that once their little eggs sacks are gone. Since the first fish I bred was a pair of wild bettas, I sure hope these guys are easier! I'm really excited to raise them, especially because there's so many!!

Even with the best care don't expect everyone to make it. They are hardy, but I would suggest feeding veggies and an assortment of food to make sure they will eat anything offered.

 

These are my first BNP also ! They seem very easy so far .
I have been trying in two dedicated tanks but one pair has breed now 2 times in my 180 display tank.I have the male in his tube with eggs #2 in a separated 5 g tank now .
So many is what I thought also although my female is 4 + years with me and maybe 4-5 inches so I thought she just laid a whole bunch.
The two pairs in dedicated tanks have done nothing but frustrate me so far ! Part of the excitement I guess !

I hope it starts working for you soon! Fish that don't normally breed (mainly the wild bettas, lol, had those breeding three days after I got them) seem to do really well for me, as do plants. I think it's just because my water is super soft, 30-50TDS depending on the time of year.

Even with the best care don't expect everyone to make it. They are hardy, but I would suggest feeding veggies and an assortment of food to make sure they will eat anything offered.

Will do! I have TONS of kale, so I hope they like that!

 

Alright, I screwed up big time. I hadn't been testing my water, and long story short, major minI cycle found yesterday. The filter broke a few days ago, but I ran out an grabbed a new one ~9 hours later, and I had just done a large water change. Got distracted, tested the water a day after the babies hatched, and HOLY MOLY, 15+ nitrites, ~100 nitrates. I had barely been feeding the tank since the male hadn't been eating.
Here we are, several 50% water changes later, and I've only found 3 dead babies so far
I believe there are still upwards of 40 or 50 babies, and the nitrites are less than 5, so my double dose of prime will hopefully keep them safe till the next water change tomorrow.
On a side note, the male is still in the cave, fanning absolutely nothing. I'm becoming very concerned that he isn't eating, I've tried dropping kale and algae wafers in the tube, but I think he just kicks it all out. Should I try removing him from the tube?

 

Alright, I screwed up big time. I hadn't been testing my water, and long story short, major minI cycle found yesterday. The filter broke a few days ago, but I ran out an grabbed a new one ~9 hours later, and I had just done a large water change. Got distracted, tested the water a day after the babies hatched, and HOLY MOLY, 15+ nitrites, ~100 nitrates. I had barely been feeding the tank since the male hadn't been eating.
Here we are, several 50% water changes later, and I've only found 3 dead babies so far
I believe there are still upwards of 40 or 50 babies, and the nitrites are less than 5, so my double dose of prime will hopefully keep them safe till the next water change tomorrow.
On a side note, the male is still in the cave, fanning absolutely nothing. I'm becoming very concerned that he isn't eating, I've tried dropping kale and algae wafers in the tube, but I think he just kicks it all out. Should I try removing him from the tube?

I don't think it would hurt, just tip it up and empty the water out, most males will wiggle out or drop from the tube to get back in water. Rinse the tube in the tank water to make sure everyone is out and either put it back or put it somewhere else.

 

I don't think it would hurt, just tip it up and empty the water out, most males will wiggle out or drop from the tube to get back in water. Rinse the tube in the tank water to make sure everyone is out and either put it back or put it somewhere else.

Thank you. I've checked several times, and there's nothing but him inside. Poor guy.

 

At what age do the babies start to develop color? There are a few turning brown, I expect them all to turn brown, but the rest are still white, bar two that look red.
Also, tried to take the male out, and surprise surprise he was actually taking care of a couple babies. Should I still force him out or keep trying to drop some algae wafers in? The babies in his cave have the best color, so I assume they're the healthiest.

 

At what age do the babies start to develop color? There are a few turning brown, I expect them all to turn brown, but the rest are still white, bar two that look red.
Also, tried to take the male out, and surprise surprise he was actually taking care of a couple babies. Should I still force him out or keep trying to drop some algae wafers in? The babies in his cave have the best color, so I assume they're the healthiest.

With unpure (genetically speaking) lines it can be a bunch of different things for them, both parents could have a recessive gene for another color, causing some fry to be not brown.
Normally once they have lost their egg sack their color is what it will be (barring of course red marble/calico which can gain or lose brown markings over the red/orange).
Do not drop food inside the tube, the babies need to learn to come out around dad, it will also encourage him to come out.

 

With unpure (genetically speaking) lines it can be a bunch of different things for them, both parents could have a recessive gene for another color, causing some fry to be not brown.
Normally once they have lost their egg sack their color is what it will be (barring of course red marble/calico which can gain or lose brown markings over the red/orange).
Do not drop food inside the tube, the babies need to learn to come out around dad, it will also encourage him to come out.

Very interesting, thank you! They still have egg sacks, but they're so small they'll probably be gone in a day or two.
Okay, I'll drop some food riiiight outside the tube for now. Only dropped half of a wafer in, and since he kicked it out, it should all be well.
Not too sure about his genetic background, I could probably reach out to the seller, but I kinda just want to find out for myself. All I know is he has some grey splotches, not even sure if the pattern even qualifies as marble since it's rather weak.

 

Very interesting, thank you! They still have egg sacks, but they're so small they'll probably be gone in a day or two.
Okay, I'll drop some food riiiight outside the tube for now. Only dropped half of a wafer in, and since he kicked it out, it should all be well.
Not too sure about his genetic background, I could probably reach out to the seller, but I kinda just want to find out for myself. All I know is he has some grey splotches, not even sure if the pattern even qualifies as marble since it's rather weak.

No he is a common, but it doesn't mean he isn't hiding genes (as brown/black is the most common color when mixing lines, I have some brown babies that came from an albino mama and a red marble male).

 

Here are a few of the babies, as you can see, some are brown. I'm not quite sure yet if they have all lost their egg sacks, but they look like they have? I think I've been losing some, still having water quality issues despite multiple daily 50% water changes, so go figure. Now I'm thinking maybe they're just turning brown and I can't see them anymore. I can still see somewhere between 30-40 babies, so not all is lost, especially since I'm pretty much only seeing the white ones.
Is repashy a good first food or not so much?

 

Woohoo! My water is finally perfect! I can only see albinos and like 4 brown ones, so I guess he had a hidden albino gene. I don't see any eggsacks, and some started to leave the wall, so I guess the brown ones are just blending into either the wood or wall.
The male still hasn't left his cave, so I may remove him later today.

 

These guys are already so big! I thought they grew slowly! They're all at least 1/2", with some slightly over when you include their little tails. They all have iridescent little spots and they're coloring up well. About half are albino, so I guess the male does have albino genes! I counted 35 today, but considering I can't see the albinos when they're on the sand and I can't see the commons when they're on the wood and can hardly see them on the sides, I'd guess there's a good number more in there!

 

Counted 61 little babies tonight! They're so cute, and I love their little spots!!