Print Page - How to breed L168's?

Title: How to breed L168's?
Post by: genie on December 15, 2005, 11:55:07 PM

Has anyone had any success breeding L168?
I'm trying to find out how to set up the tank, what conditions they need and how to raise the fry?
Any web links would also be appreciated.
Thanks
Jeannie

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Post by: Alan Caboolture on December 16, 2005, 02:13:10 AM

Just treat them like bristle nose or any other small pleco and fatten them up for the next 12 months or so.

Actually I have not seen any real L168 for sale here,,,,plenty of L104, just about every LFS has or had L104,,,,what ever lable they had on them.

Regardless what you bought them as, If you have clown plecos, L104, Panaqolus maccus, then they will be mature and breedable at 10 cm or 4 inches SL. Cave spawners, like most small plecos. Willing breeders in small, tight caves.

If you do have real L168, Butterfy pleco, Zonancistrus pulcher, then they will not be mature till they are 15 cm, 6 inches SL. Require a bit bigger cave for breeding, not quite so easy to spawn and not over prolific.

Though they will happily live in most water, for breeding, pH 6.8 to 7 and hardness less than 100 ppm Ca.

Alan.

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Post by: jamosfish on December 16, 2005, 05:53:36 PM

Alan,

There are real L168s now in qld.......
I have got some myself now and can say with 100% certainty that they are the real deal!

jamos

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Post by: genie on December 16, 2005, 09:20:42 PM

Although I am still struggling to tell the difference 100%..
I am 'fairly' confident that these are L168's. They look like the L168 pictures not L104 pictures in Planet Catfish.
The main feature I've notice is that the white stripe are much wider than any of the L104's I've commonly seen in QLD.
I paid enough so I sure hope they are!!!

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Post by: ndoboi on December 16, 2005, 09:53:46 PM

L168s are a lot paler and flater than the L104. Not sure how the poor guys at AQIS got it wrong, other than they should have been expecting the right fish to come through.

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Post by: Alan Caboolture on December 16, 2005, 10:25:03 PM

Yes Jamos, there are.

I managed to corner 10 of the little cuties, but they were not purchased locally.

But I am kicking my self that I didn't get any L104 when there were so many around and at a very reasonable price.

Alan.

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Post by: Clarkii on January 06, 2006, 06:05:20 PM

Is it possible to sex L168 at about 6cm to 8cm?, what should I look for? finances wont allow the buy half a dozen caper. :wink: :wink: .

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Post by: Alan Caboolture on January 06, 2006, 06:57:07 PM

I have got some up to about 8cm SL but I can't dicern any definative sex differences yet. Can make a couple of guesstimates,,but I don't anticipate makeing any real possative ID untill they are about 12cm.

Alan

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Post by: Clarkii on January 06, 2006, 08:52:06 PM

Thanks Allan,
The ones I saw today were about the 8cm mark & they all looked pretty much the same. I have been told that some 12cm to 14cm ones may be available $$$$ what would be the differences between male & female at this size to look for?.

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Post by: nem7902 on January 06, 2006, 09:38:52 PM

as far as i no it has something to do with the spikes on the side fins...the males have HEAPS of big spikes compared to females which have smaller and less spikes hth

cheers luke!!

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Post by: likesfish on January 06, 2006, 09:48:14 PM

Males tend to have a hairy body i.e. fine hairs on back. Also check out the vent area.

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Post by: Clarkii on January 07, 2006, 07:49:49 AM

Thanks for the info guys I will try & get some of them regardless of their size, they are really nice fish.

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Post by: Schmuck on January 07, 2006, 12:17:13 PM

Even if you get a pair which later turn out to be both of the same sex, I'm sure you could swap with someone :wink:

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Post by: Hypancistrus Zebra on January 07, 2006, 01:14:44 PM

Only if you end up with 2 females. Not many people give up female catfish for males.

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Post by: Alan Caboolture on January 07, 2006, 04:04:02 PM

Two females is about as usefull as two males !!! :(

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Post by: Clarkii on January 07, 2006, 04:36:22 PM

Very,very true Alan :wink: .

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Post by: likesfish on January 07, 2006, 06:03:31 PM

I'm not certain, but my brother has 3 L168 which he might part with?? He's in Brissy so email me if you're interested. Not sure on price.

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Post by: Alan Caboolture on January 08, 2006, 02:40:26 AM

Hi Ya Max,

The fish Norm has are actually L104, Had a look at them a couple4 of weeks ago when I picked up the other catfish.

Alan.

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Post by: Thanes on January 08, 2006, 05:07:57 PM

Brad at Aquairiums Alive had some the other day around the 5-6cm mark give him a call he was going to get more in.

Brian.

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Post by: likesfish on January 08, 2006, 08:22:49 PM

Gidday Alan, good to hear from you. I'm just taking a break from fish. Sure is an addictive and expensive hobby. However, i think it's all fuelled by enjoyment and a sense of pioneering. I think keeping the different varieties of cories is brilliant. They certainly have interesting little characteristics. I can understand why we can easily fall for them. I guess being able to see them is the best plus. Sorry for diverting from the main topic. Good to see you're still powering on with catties.

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Post by: Aquariums Alive on January 08, 2006, 11:40:19 PM

Yeah Thanx Brian

I got some more in
They are around 9-10cms
Very nice fish

Brad

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Fish talk => Catfish & Loach Discussion => Topic started by: genie on December 15, 2005, 11:55:07 PM