Breeding Vampires

[klc]

I'm wondering if anyone has tried breeding any of the Leporicanthicus species. If so, have you had any luck? I currently have 5 L264 Sultans (may get one more) and am interested in giving it a try. I plan on setting up a 40 gal breeder tank which will be species specific. They have some growing out to do so I've got time to get things properly set up. Info on the internet is pretty sketchy. Any hints or advice would be appreciated.

[CanadaPleco]

Hey thats great news that you are going to give these guys a try, awesome looking pleco. Checkout this article that I translated from l-welse
http://www.canadapleco.com/vbarticles.php?do=article&articleid=9

Rich

[klc]

Thanks very much for the article. I think that I read it a couple of months ago but then couldn't find it again. I've printed it off for safe keeping. I'm a Sultan junkie and now that we're into the new house, I've got the room to putter around with this kind of thing. Time to start boneing up on water conditions etc in the Rio Tapajos basin.

[jordsonsmum]

Provide them with choices of driftwood caves;)

[klc]

Are wooden caves preferable to slate or terra cotta? If it needs to be wood then my Dremel and I can get acquainted with a couple of blocks of maple.

[jordsonsmum]

They do prefer driftwood caves. I did my homework before bringing a pair home. I'm afraid I lost them to a minor catastrophe. Before I lost them, I put the literature to the test. I offered them a variety of slate, taracotta, abs and drilled out driftwood. The wood one the contest hands down.

Very difficult to breed the little beauties getting started. I've heard of one local on the mainland of BC. If you are successful, i'll be first in line begging to buy babes:D :rolleyes: Having said that... GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[jordsonsmum]

I was muddeling through my photos to sort them out and when I found these I thought of you. This is the cave I made that they loved so much. Cheers
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_6502.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_6498.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_6475.jpg
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t174/jordonsmum/100_6425.jpg

[klc]

Thanks. Nice looking plec's. I'll have to check around for some bogwood that can be drilled out. Good idea.

[KnaveTO]

Get yourself a Dremel from Canadian Tire. They work wonders for dealing with all that fish stuff... you can even get diamond bits for cutting slate. I got a good set for under $100 with every bit I will possibly need

[klc]

Already ahead of you KnaveTO. Got a Dremel, an attachment kit and an adjustable stand. Cool toy!

[jordsonsmum]

And soon KLC will some beautiful baby plec's for us. Trade ya for my paycheck KLC....lol :D;)

[CanadaPleco]

Hey you ever have any luck breeding these guys? I havent yet with my Leporicanthicus :(

[klc]

Not yet, I think they are still a bit young. I saw three Sultans at Big Al's in Mississauga back in June that I would love to have bought (and should have). They were an easy 6" - mature adults. I'm going to redo the 40 gal breeder just for the Sultans and see if that helps.

[CanadaPleco]

Those would be nice, never seen any sultans that big. That's the size of my 240's. Good luck with em, and keep us updated.

[mike]

does anyone know how big vampires need to be to breed? ON a scale from 1-10 how hard would it be to breed these guys?

[CanadaPleco]

There are a few people breeding them, but thats about the end of that :( I have a group that I am working on here. Mine are all around 5"-8" and they have tons of caves. There is a tread at planetcatfish.com right now that shows pics of a guy that has breed them a number of times. http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=24484

They seem pretty standard as it goes with plecos though. Not easy but can be done.

How big are yours? How many do you have? How big is your tank? Is there anything else in the tank?

[mike]

Well someone that i know has 5 of them and i put them on hold. They range from 5" to about 71/2" i believe. I havnt set up the tank for them yet but im going to put them in a tank that is 48x18x21 so i think thats what a 75 gallon? =S?

It will just be strictly the vampires in there.... I know some place that has large sultons but not sure if i should mix them ? So i fi can i might try a buncha sultans in there too?

The only thing i have ever bred pleco wise is long fins albinos and long fin browns. But i think im going to take the leap to hyprans and vampires as i have 5; 3-4" king tigers and i have 4 l260s waiting to get bigger to breed.

[klc]

Mike, where are you located? I'd be interested in the L264 Sultans if they're available. Mine are getting close to breeding size but I'd like a few more just in case.

Ken

[mike]

Im located in vancouver b.c, I will see if the petstore still has them. Cuz last time i went they had a buncha pretty large ones.

I dont know how that would work though if u were far away haha

[cichlidguy]

Spencer Jack has some in Sultans stock here in winnipeg and he ships as well. You can send him an e-mail at spenjack@gmail.com for more info.

-John