Woooo!!! Pleco laid eggs!

[Unknown9182]

My blue eyed lemon bristle nose pleco (male) and albino bristle nose pleco (female) finally laid eggs. I just recently got this pleco cave (yesterday and they laid eggs in it today

Edit: go to to around the 4th of the video to the eggs.

 

[AvaTheFish]

YAYYY CONGRATS I HOPE THAT WORKS OUT WELL!! However that other orange fish that may or may not have been a platty who looked to be getting real close to the pleco could be a problem. You dont want to stress the pleco out too much and might want to remove all other fish... just a suggestion. Good luck!!!

 

[FishPlanet]

YAY! CONGRATS!!! Post updates!

 

[Unknown9182]

YAYYY CONGRATS I HOPE THAT WORKS OUT WELL!! However that other orange fish that may or may not have been a platty who looked to be getting real close to the pleco could be a problem. You dont want to stress the pleco out too much and might want to remove all other fish... just a suggestion. Good luck!!!

The orange fish was in the way because of the flashlight I was using. I had to turn the lights off to take a video with the phone flashlight one and that one particular fish happens to like light a lot. Was following like a dog and a bone.
The pleco is still guarding eggs, yesterday i saw him fertilize them because I saw a small white cloud in the cave. I gave the female a big meal because she was skinny after laying those eggs now she is plump and happy. He is doing a good job cleaning the eggs. Today i have a fry separator coming in today (mesh net) to separate the fry. The female I actually got for free at petco because it was a surrender. They had her for several months. They gave it to me for Free Because I went to petco a lot and they knew I would take good care of it and also because it was eating their plants. she hasn’t eaten any of mine.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update day 3: It is Tuesday and I checked on the eggs and at this point they are still orange which means they have been fertilized. They are also starting to develop a white cap which is the baby pleco. My male bristlenose is doing a great job. None of the fish want to approach the cave except for the female bristlenose. I’m guessing around the beginning of next week they will be free swimming.

 

[Natalie666]

How cute! When’s the baby shower?

 

[Unknown9182]

How cute! When’s the baby shower?

Hah! I was wondering when they got married.

 

[BigManAquatics]

Got plans for the fry?

 

[Unknown9182]

Got plans for the fry?

Yeah, I just got a brand new fry separator to put the baby plecos in. When they get around an inch long I might start giving them away. I will probably keep 1 of the lemon plecos.
I looked at the eggs and I can actually see the shape of the pleco but it’s extremely small. My plan is when they start to move around I will move the ones that are moving into separator and put in an air bubblers to help the fry absorb their egg sac (kinda like a tumbler).

 

[Unknown9182]

UpdateDay4: The white is staring to become more apparent. At this point I can see the tiny pleco but it’s still very small.

 

[mattgirl]

The first time I got pleco eggs my main concern was for Elbert. I was getting concerned because he wasn't coming out the eat. I ended up pulling him off the eggs and moved them and the piece of decor they were in over to a small hatchery tank. I ran an airstone on low to keep them aerated/fanned much like he would have done had I allowed him to finish the job. All hatched and I ended up with about 80 fry.

All this to say it might be easier to move eggs than it will be to move fry. Instead of the fry separator have you considered just moving the eggs over to a grow out tank? Should you choose to do so just move the eggs over to it and allow them to hatch in there. In my humble opinion it is easier and less stressful on both you and the fry to do this instead of trying to move them once hatched and free swimming.

 

[Unknown9182]

The first time I got pleco eggs my main concern was for Elbert. I was getting concerned because he wasn't coming out the eat. I ended up pulling him off the eggs and moved them and the piece of decor they were in over to a small hatchery tank. I ran an airstone on low to keep them aerated/fanned much like he would have done had I allowed him to finish the job. All hatched and I ended up with about 80 fry.

All this to say it might be easier to move eggs than it will be to move fry. Instead of the fry separator have you considered just moving the eggs over to a grow out tank? Should you choose to do so just move the eggs over to it and allow them to hatch in there. In my humble opinion it is easier and less stressful on both you and the fry to do this instead of trying to move them once hatched and free swimming.

So are you saying I should just move the eggs while they are still eggs? Not fry. I try to set up a hatchery.

 

[mattgirl]

So are you saying I should just move the eggs while they are still eggs? Not fry. I try to set up a hatchery.

That is what I did I moved the piece of decor the eggs were in over to a 3 gallon storage tote. I filled the tote with water from the tank I took them from. I left Elbert in the big tank and just moved the eggs over to the tote. The airstone producing bubbles to fan the eggs did what Elbert would have been doing for them. I posted my pleco fry journey here. Bristlenose Pleco Is Guarding Eggs (i Think) | Bristlenose Pleco Forum | 419711

Once the eggs hatched I replaced the air stone with a seeded sponge filter.

 

[Unknown9182]

That is what I did I moved the piece of decor the eggs were in over to a 3 gallon storage tote. I filled the tote with water from the tank I took them from. I left Elbert in the big tank and just moved the eggs over to the tote. The airstone producing bubbles to fan the eggs did what Elbert would have been doing for them. I posted my pleco fry journey here. Bristlenose Pleco Is Guarding Eggs (i Think) | Bristlenose Pleco Forum | 419711

Once the eggs hatched I replaced the air stone with a seeded sponge filter.

The eggs are in a pleco cave right now. I have a spare 5ish gallon plastic tank available. So should I move the cave into the spare tank. Add water from my 36 gal into it and separate the male. And add some decor.

 

[Redpoll]

Yay! Congrats!

 

[Unknown9182]

@mattgirl here is the tank.
Is this a good setup? mattgirl
I have the bubbler on and tilted the cave so that the bubbles reach the back of it.
Edit: I think some of them are starting to hatch. One of the eggs I see has a fin sticking out and a couple eggs are starting to move.
Edit edit: TWO OF THEM HAVE HATCHED they are trying to break out of the eggs, I see their tails wiggling
One of them hatched

 

[mattgirl]

View attachment 798968@mattgirl here is the tank.
Is this a good setup? mattgirl
I have the bubbler on and tilted the cave so that the bubbles reach the back of it. View attachment 798969
Edit: I think some of them are starting to hatch. One of the eggs I see has a fin sticking out and a couple eggs are starting to move.
Edit edit: TWO OF THEM HAVE HATCHED they are trying to break out of the eggs, I see their tails wiggling

This should work out perfectly for these little guys. The little ones normally don't come out of the cave for a few days after they hatch. For the first few days they will feed on their eggs sack. Once that is gone they will start venturing out. Now that they have started hatching it should happen pretty fast.

By moving them now you won't have to try to catch them in the big tank once they get brave enough to come out of hiding.

Edited to add: turn the air down really low. They just need a very gentle flow. We are trying to mimic the gentle movement of their dads fins.

 

[Unknown9182]

This should work out perfectly for these little guys. The little ones normally don't come out of the cave for a few days after they hatch. For the first few days they will feed on their eggs sack. Once that is gone they will start venturing out. Now that they have started hatching it should happen pretty fast.

By moving them now you won't have to try to catch them in the big tank once they get brave enough to come out of hiding.

Thanks for the great idea. Couple more have started to wiggle their tails and are trying to hatch out of their eggs. You mentioned I should get a sponge filter for when they get bigger. Should I?

 

[mattgirl]

Thanks for the great idea. Couple more have started to wiggle their tails and are trying to hatch out of their eggs. You mentioned I should get a sponge filter for when they get bigger. Should I?

Fortunately I had a seeded one that had been running in my big tank so moved it over to the nursery tank. I do recommend a sponge filter. Any other kind and these tiny creatures may get pulled inside it.

You are going to be doing a lot of water changes on this tank so starting with a new sponge filter should work out fine. We want to keep the fry well fed. I kept food in for them constantly so was doing water changes at least every other day. Doing so kept the ammonia down to nothing.

 

[Unknown9182]

Fortunately I had a seeded one that had been running in my big tank so moved it over to the nursery tank. I do recommend a sponge filter. Any other kind and these tiny creatures may get pulled inside it.

You are going to be doing a lot of water changes on this tank so starting with a new sponge filter should work out fine. We want to keep the fry well fed. I kept food in for them constantly so was doing water changes at least every other day. Doing so kept the ammonia down to nothing.

I will get the sponge filter. My only issue is that on july 14th I will be on the Florida keys and come back in 9 days. Do you think they will survive if i drop in a algae wafer or some baby food?

 

[mattgirl]

I will get the sponge filter. My only issue is that on july 14th I will be on the Florida keys and come back in 9 days. Do you think they will survive if i drop in a algae wafer or some baby food?

It's hard to say. I was with mine all the time so could keep on top of everything. Do you have any kind of driftwood in your main tank that could be put in this tank? If you do move it over the day you leave. It will have bio-film on it to help feed the little ones while you are gone.

 

[Unknown9182]

It's hard to say. I was with mine all the time so could keep on top of everything. Do you have any kind of driftwood in your main tank that could be put in this tank? If you do move it over the day you leave. It will have bio-film on it to help feed the little ones while you are gone.

I do have 3 pieces of cholla wood in my pea puffer tank. So I can just move them with the babies the day I leave.
edit: they do seem to produce a good amount of biofilm because my smaller albino BN pleco (2 in) and a oto like to suck on it alot.

 

[mattgirl]

Cholla wood should be good. There is a lot of surface area both inside and out for bio-film. Is there any chance someone could come by every 3rd day or so to drop in an algae wafer? Since you aren't going to be there to do water changes you wouldn't want to feed them any more often than that. The bio-film may be enough but I truly don't know for sure.

 

[Unknown9182]

Cholla wood should be good. There is a lot of surface area both inside and out for bio-film. Is there any chance someone could come by every 3rd day or so to drop in an algae wafer? Since you aren't going to be there to do water changes you wouldn't want to feed them any more often than that. The bio-film may be enough but I truly don't know for sure.

I don’t really have anyone but I can stick an algae wafer inside the cholla wood
Maybe but I will have to check

 

[Hail5384]

View attachment 798968@mattgirl here is the tank.
Is this a good setup? mattgirl
I have the bubbler on and tilted the cave so that the bubbles reach the back of it. View attachment 798969
Edit: I think some of them are starting to hatch. One of the eggs I see has a fin sticking out and a couple eggs are starting to move.
Edit edit: TWO OF THEM HAVE HATCHED they are trying to break out of the eggs, I see their tails wiggling
One of them hatchedView attachment 798972View attachment 798973

Omg how exciting! Bristlenose are adorable. Congrats! I thought about adding one to mine then ended up with 40 mystery snails lol

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 5: Nearly half of them have hatched already. Only one has died but that was because of the males spike punctured it. The rest of them are very healthy, bright orange egg sacs and eggs. The ones that have hatched (around 15. Or so) are really active. They are able to stick to the side of the cave and are moving their tails a lot. Their egg sac shrunk a little and they grew a bit overnight. I expect more to hatch over the course of today. I gave the male bristlenose pleco a big nice meal. I gave him a catfish wafer and then some bloodworms and brine shrimp. I will continue to update the frys growth progression.

 

[Unknown9182]

Ok, at this point just about all of the eggs have hatched. There are only a couple eggs left that haven’t hatched. I removed the clear egg casings they left behind and removed any dead ones (I only found 5-6 bad eggs). There are probably around 30 of them right now. All of them are very active. They have developed eyes and they have gotten a bit bigger and their egg sacs shrunk. Today the filter sponge is coming in.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 6: There are only 2 eggs left that haven’t hatched. The fry grew again over night. Their eyes are more defined and they are starting to gain some coloration. They are becoming stronger swimmers. They are now starting to develop their pectoral fins. Apparently they are supposed to be free swimmers on day 8 and they are on the right track.

 

[Nessaf]

I usually move pleco fry when they look like mini plecos instead of tadpoles, but before they leave the cave. It’s easier for me to move dad and all, then wait for them to disperse and move dad and cave back to main tank. Don’t worry about feeding them, they don’t eat anything until they have all of their fins.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 7: All the eggs have hatched I removed one bad egg and all of the egg cases. Their heads grew over night. The head looks more like a very very small pleco head instead of a tadpole head. The egg sacs shrunk and they grew. They gained a bit more color and their eyes are slightly bigger. They now seem to react to light and can move quickly now. Supposedly tomorrow they ought to be fully free swimming.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 8: Their heads got much bigger. The heads look like a baby pleco head. Their tails have developed the triangle form, no longer rounded. They are free swimming but they don’t leave the cave. Their dorsal fins are starting to show. They grew a bit in size. They are growing extremely fast.

 

[Nessaf]

Don’t worry, they’ll leave the cave when they become hungry.

 

[Unknown9182]

Don’t worry, they’ll leave the cave when they become hungry.

So basically they will come out when they consume their egg sacs.

 

[mattgirl]

If you would like to read about my first time with BN pleco fry this thread documents it. Bristlenose Pleco Is Guarding Eggs (i Think) | Bristlenose Pleco Forum | 419711 My little ones were over a week old before they ventured out for a bite to eat.

itty bitty fish are so cute. I spied a baby in my main tank a few days ago. Looks like a cory egg managed to hatch. The little one is about 1/2 inch long.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 9: They have grown a lot overnight, some of them have almost consumed their egg sacs. They have gotten more color (black).

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 10: Almost all off them have consumed their egg sacs. They all have obtained a dark color. They look like mini plecos for sure now. Very active. They are probably going to leave the cave any day now.

 

[mattgirl]

Update Day 10: Almost all off them have consumed their egg sacs. They all have obtained a dark color. They look like mini plecos for sure now. Very active. They are probably going to leave the cave any day now.

I would start offering food now. Put it outside the cave to tempt them out. If they don't come out within a few hours remove the food and try again tomorrow.
Do you have any kind of substrate in this tank? If you do, put the food in a feeding dish. By doing so it will be easier to remove any uneaten food. If you have no substrate it will be easy to keep the bottom clean.

 

[Flyfisha]

I don’t claim to have any answers on the best way to raise these fish but I sure take a totally different approach. Each time I have had eggs hatch I emptied them out of the cave by pouring them out . . I do recall tipping dad out of the cave and fry being poured out . I know one or two fry had slipped past dad on day two? , so I just got stuck in and removed dad as I emptied them out. I know we all approach our roll as fish grandparents from a different angle but geez I don’t get the idea of putting food on the outside of the cave and waiting.

All I am saying is I read this post and realised I take action on a daily basis even when I really don’t know what I am doing.

 

[FishDin]

They are SO cute when they are at this stage. I love it when they gang up on a piece of cuke.

I found that the males will outcompete the females for food. Not a problem right now, but if your going to grow them you'll want to keep an eye on that or you'll have a tank a big old males and tiny females.

 

[mattgirl]

I don’t claim to have any answers on the best way to raise these fish but I sure take a totally different approach. Each time I have had eggs hatch I emptied them out of the cave by pouring them out . . I do recall tipping dad out of the cave and fry being poured out . I know one or two fry had slipped past dad on day two? , so I just got stuck in and removed dad as I emptied them out. I know we all approach our roll as fish grandparents from a different angle but geez I don’t get the idea of putting food on the outside of the cave and waiting.

All I am saying is I read this post and realised I take action on a daily basis even when I really don’t know what I am doing.

In my case it was fun watching them finally getting brave enough to start venturing out. For a few days a few would come out but would quickly go back where they felt safer. Once they were a couple of weeks old all were out and about.

 

[Unknown9182]

I would start offering food now. Put it outside the cave to tempt them out. If they don't come out within a few hours remove the food and try again tomorrow.
Do you have any kind of substrate in this tank? If you do, put the food in a feeding dish. By doing so it will be easier to remove any uneaten food. If you have no substrate it will be easy to keep the bottom clean.

The little tank they are in has no substrate, i knew it would be easier to clean and they would have more surface area to suck without it. I will try to drop in a food.

edit: I went Upstairs to check on them and I looked in the cave and saw a lot of them are gathered near the front of the cave. They may be trying to gather up courage to leave the cave. I dropped in an algaewafer, I will observe what happens.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update day 11: The egg sac is almost gone, right now it looks like they are fat. They look like a little plecos for sure. They are currently black and grey, I’m assuming this is their baby color. They wont accept food yet. I just put in the sponge filter last night because they have reached the point where they don’t need that flow of water to help absorb their egg sac. The sponge is working very well it’s sucking up any detritus and poop. I got it for 4.99 on Amazon (quite a deal). I also did a little water change yesterday. Got a little tube (the one for bubblers) and siphoned it into a jar. None of them have died and They all appear to be very healthy. mattgirl My godmother is able to come over twice to feed my fish during the 9 day vacation, Im having her come over on the 17th and 20th, we leave on the 14th and come back on the 23rd or 24th. She will be one of the first people I give one of the plecos to since she gave me a small angelfish (which passed, may that angelfish rest in peace). I then plan on giving more to a biology teacher and a marine biology teacher at my school. They give me community service hours for maintaining their fish tanks. The rest I will give to petco.

 

[mattgirl]

Do you have anything you can move from your main tank over to this one? A piece of driftwood would be best. Anything you can move over would have bio-film on it. You little ones will appreciate that type of food 'specially while you are gone and they are not being fed daily.

The first thing I fed my little guys was blanched zucchini with an algae wafer stuck in it. This is a photo of my first ones at 9 days old.



Oops, it is hard to see them well in that photo but check the same photo out here Bristlenose Pleco Is Guarding Eggs (i Think) | Bristlenose Pleco Forum | 419711

 

[Flyfisha]

As you are going away for 9 days and have week old pleco fry they will need to be in an established tank. The bigger the better. The older and more established (dirtier ) the better.
Some will likely survive in any established tank regardless of tank mates. They will all starve in a sterile breeding box . Water changes ? Again a big volume tank is your best chance of they surviving 9 days.

I have never seen a video of anyone that says this species of fry needs a sterile tank.?

 

[Unknown9182]

I moved over a piece of cholla wood and my godmother will be able to feed them twice while I’m gone.

 

[Flyfisha]

I do hope they are going to be OK . I feel for your godmother if they don’t make it. Two feedings in 9 days is more than enough for adult fish.But not what I consider necessary for fry.

I have a few other species of fry tanks running at the moment. Even with them being in established tanks I am feeding live baby brine 3 or more times a day.

All I am saying is there is food on any established tank. And the other last thing you they need is a ton of uneaten food on the floor.

 

[Unknown9182]

Update Day 12: They have finally left the cave. Around half of them are out of the cave and are exploring their surroundings. They look very happy.
question: Could I just have my godmother just drop in one algae wafer instead of two?

 

[Flyfisha]

I have no experience feeding algae wafers to BN fry.
How many fry? How big is an algae wafer? Which brand?

I was under the impression they need some protein in the diet? I just fed a good quality dry fish food ( new live spectrum) along with live micro worms and zucchini for the first few months. On at least one occasion I mixed driftwood sawdust in with a powder of a food gell mix. ( repashy )

 

[mattgirl]

Unfortunately you are going to be gone during the first critical time of their life. A time when they need to be well fed and their water kept very clean. Since they are in a small container is it possible for your godmother to take them home with her so she can keep an eye on them? feed them and keep their water clean?

for the first few weeks of their lives I kept an almost constant supply of food in the container for them but I was right there to do water changes almost daily. I started them out with blanched zucchini stuffed with algae wafers, veggie rounds or shrimp pellets. As they got older I fed the zucchini raw and also continued to feed them some of the above along with replashy morning wood.

If she can't take them home and take care of them it might be better to just go ahead and put them in your big tank. At least there they can graze on bio-film. If you are running a HOB filter on the tank be sure you block the strainer on the end of the uptake tube. If not you will come home to baby pleco living in your filter. The main problem with putting them in the big tank is the problem of getting all of them back out of there when to time comes.

Do you have any idea as to how many you have? The first time I hatched pleco eggs I guessed at least 50. It was actually closer to 80 of them. Two spawns from my super reds left me with about 200 of them.

 

[Unknown9182]

Unfortunately you are going to be gone during the first critical time of their life. A time when they need to be well fed and their water kept very clean. Since they are in a small container is it possible for your godmother to take them home with her so she can keep an eye on them? feed them and keep their water clean?

for the first few weeks of their lives I kept an almost constant supply of food in the container for them but I was right there to do water changes almost daily. I started them out with blanched zucchini stuffed with algae wafers, veggie rounds or shrimp pellets. As they got older I fed the zucchini raw and also continued to feed them some of the above along with replashy morning wood.

If she can't take them home and take care of them it might be better to just go ahead and put them in your big tank. At least there they can graze on bio-film. If you are running a HOB filter on the tank be sure you block the strainer on the end of the uptake tube. If not you will come home to baby pleco living in your filter. The main problem with putting them in the big tank is the problem of getting all of them back out of there when to time comes.

Do you have any idea as to how many you have? The first time I hatched pleco eggs I guessed at least 50. It was actually closer to 80 of them. Two spawns from my super reds left me with about 200 of them.

There are around 30 of them, if I put Them in a big tank wouldn’t they get eaten? Can I move some driftwood into their little container. The alage wafers I have are hikari brand. They are around the size of a small button. I can also ask her to put in a little bit of fry powder food.
edit:I also have powdered brine shrimp food avaible. Non capsule.