So It Begins...baby Plecos

HI all! Been a while since I've been on the site, a lot has happened over the last year or so! I thought I'd post this in the beginner section as I am still a newbie.

Back in January we added two juvie albino bn plecos to our tank. We had no idea the sexes until the smaller one sprouted bristles and the bigger one remained smooth. Well they've paired up. A couple months ago we noticed little fry swimming around and well they didn't last long. One of the many other fish made a fast meal put of the brave ones who ventured out of the log.

Just last night I noticed the Male was in the log again and after a few minutes noticed little plecos. A lot of little plecos. Now I've went out and purchased a breeder net this and have since relocated as many of these cute little sperm like things into the net and to safety. My partner refused to let me set up the 10 gallon as a grow out (we have some serious renovations coming up and just don't have the space). So they have to stay in the 55 gallon. Big Al's has said they will buy whatever I can grow out to about 1.5" so we have a place to sell them too (and then get more plants, maybe save up for a nice downpayment on a canister filter).

So my questions are as follows:

1)should we have moved them?
2) Should we put the dad in the net?
3)what do baby plecos eat? Same as the adults?
4) Does the dad provide any nutrition for them?
5) Should we place driftwood in the net with the babies?
6) Should we place anything in with the babies?
7) How long does it take for plecos to grow?

I know this is information I could probably Google but I feel you wonderful people can answer my questions with more accuracy and real experience than some websites. Thanks so much all!!!!

 

WELCOME BACK!!

It is going to take you a very very very long time to grow them to 1.5 inches if you don't have a good sized grow out tank for them. Even if your partner allowed you to set up the 10g, that is far too small to grow out plecos. And It sounds like the 55 gallon isn't an option. I hope you aren't thinking you can grow them out in a net......because that would never work!!

To answer your questions:

1. if they were being eaten...the obvious answer is YES!! lol

2. No do not put dad in the net with them. That isn't fair to him at all.

3. When they finish their yolk sacs, they will eat what the parents eat. My babies loved zucchinI the best. And they will also eat wafers and things. The babies need more protein than the adults though, so you will need to add some protein to their diet. Like shrimp wafers or whatever. It can't only be algae wafers and veggies for the babies.

4. Dad plecos are EXCELLENT caretakers before the babies exit the cave. But no, they don't provide "nutrition".

5. No, the babies don't need driftwood yet if they are still little sperm looking things as you described. Do they still have their yolk sacks???

6. No...you need to get them out of the net altogether.

7. It depends on the food, the water changes and the tank size. It will take you about 3-4 months to get them big enough for the fish store as long as they have a LARGE grow out tank and lots of water changes and good food. Otherwise it could take much longer and the fish will be less healthy. You really need a grow out tank for them.

As sad as it may be...I think you should just release them into the 55. Put in lots and lots of caves and hiding spots that only the babies can squeeze into. And maybe you will get lucky and some will survive. As for the ones who don't...its a better fate than the net for months in my opinion. Maybe if you keep them in the net for a couple weeks and let them put on a little bit of size first...they would have a better chance of survival in the community?? maybe??

You could also try dividing the 55g....but it would be hard to have a divider with holes small enough that the babies can't fit through.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you don't have anywhere to grow out those plecos, I think it would be very irresponsible to try to raise them under the current circumstances. And letting nature takes its course in the community tank would be the best choice here in my opinion. (circle of life lol) BUT again, maybe you will be lucky and some will survive the community setting.

 

No, I agree and so does my partner. The circle of life may be harsh but it is what it is. Sadly those plecos where to young to sex or we would not have gotten two. I have no intention of letting the little buggers suffer that's for sure. But I know that the gouramis have made snack out of a few of the brave ones that venture to the edge of the cave, they looked VERY plump. I'm not sure what the egg sack would look like. I've attached a couple pictures of the fry.

If by some chance I where to get a spare tank up and running, would a 20 gallon long do the trick?

Editing to add: I googled hatchlings and egg sack on plecos. I believe these wigglers have absorbed their sacks.

 

A 20 gallon is still very small as far as gallons. But it does have a decent footprint. I guess it depends on how many you want to raise. But I also suggest daily water changes/vacuuming to keep the water quality in check AND make them grow faster. Especially in a smaller tank like that.

If you can get a 20long, maybe try raising like 10 of them? But not all of them? That could work. It'll just take a little while longer to get them to LFS size.

Baby plecos are POOP MACHINES. Just like their parents. So they cause a lot of mess and keeping nitrates down can be a challenge. I have grown out plecos in a 46g bow and even with water changes every other day the nitrates stayed high.

I appreciate that you recognize that circle of life may be the best option...because that is a very selfless thing to do in this case. Because I know it would be fun to raise them.

I still think if you let them grow out in the net, or a 10 gallon for a few weeks before putting them into the 55g, they might be able to stay clear of the gourami. They are very vulnerable still when they first exit that cave.

The 20 long would probably be the best bet for you to grow out a handful of them for fun.

The yolk sacs look almost gone on yours. When they first hatch, the yolk sack is like 3 times their size. haha It looks funny as heck. Because the yolk sacks are pretty much gone, you need to start feeding them. I would put some shrimp wafers in the net or something.

 

Thanks for the input. I think even letting them grow a bit, the chances of any surviving are very slim. The gourami hunt the top of the tank and the pictus circle the bottom, no where for the little wigglers to go really. They'll get picked off as soon as they come out of hiding. C'est la vie, maybe in the future haha

 

So... I may have kept the little wigglers in the 10 gallon anyways... and they seem to be doing pretty good. Most are looking fantastic in growth while there are a few lagers. I contacted Big Al's to see how much bigger they need to be to see, and I've also posted them on my local kijiji

 

I hear you pain in raising them. My two BNs were in a 75 gallon when I noticed around 20 fry. And then a week later I noticed another 20 eggs. I bought a 20 gallon long that I setup with HOB and driftwood and now have father, 20 x 3 cm and 25 1.25 cm all together.

Every two days a water change, clean the bottom daily.

It took about 6 weeks for the first batch to reach 3 cm. Time to trade them in. If you are interested in making money on a regular basis, keep the parents. Any two BNs will not guarantee breeding.

 

Yeah, we're daily water changes. They're like little piggies, they just don't stop eating. I usually put 30 pellets in the morning and by the afternoon next morning all gone! We kept the 10 gallong bare bottom and it's so much easier to clean. Turkey baster to get the poop and then I just dip a cup in to take out about 30 to 40%. Its a labour of love. I changed the 55 gallon so there aren't any caves they can hide and breed in, though I think they tried to spawn in the wave maker since it's been off for a couple weeks. Not really my idea of a money maker. I didnt think we had a breeding pair.