LF: Zebra Pleco's

[jordsonsmum]

Myself and another friend are looking to buy a few of these guys. Pref sexable, but not manditory.

Thanks
Kristy

[CanadaPleco]

you'll have a VERY VERY hard time finding any that are sexable. People just arent selling them at that size. You;ve got to get babies and grow them out, an they grow VERY slow.

[jordsonsmum]

I'm all for that... I figure if we can get a group of at least six between the two of us... our odds are pretty darn good. Depending on price, i'd like to get more. I just need to find who has them now...:(

[Zebrapl3co]

Hmm, Let's see, there's:
- CanadaPleco
- tobalman (I don't think he comes here)
- Dough from Delta guppies.
- Some girl in London
- KnaveTO
- Dr. Stretch
- Tony (I forgot this forum name, but I don't think he comes here too.)
- and at the very least, a dozen others around Ontario that I have yet to meet.
Oh and ofcourse, yours truely.

[KnaveTO]

As far as I am aware of that is the complete list for thes guys for here in Canada. There is someone in Burlington that has them as well (unless he is on this list as I don't know his forums name). There are very few of us here in Canuckland that have these beauties. Personally would love to see more of them up here. Just no-one ships these guys and if they do you are payring a major premium on the price.

[CanadaPleco]

Kyle has a few as well. Not to many around thats for sure.

[KnaveTO]

doesn't Bwiskered keep zebras?

[CanadaPleco]

doesn't Bwiskered keep zebras?

I dont believe he has any.

[Zebrapl3co]

Well, in terms of numbers. I know that I have the most.
But in terms of breedable zebras. I think Dough have around 12 adult or something like that. He just had one spawn and that one fizzled. I haven't talked to him for almost 1 year. So I don't know. If he was successful, he might end up with 100s of fry now.
There was also another guy who bought out 10 zebras from BA's back just right after the ban. $200 a pop. I don't know who that was. But would like to buy those from him.

Anway, one thing thats for sure, I know there are still alot of people with zebras in Ontario that we don't know of.

Tracing back into the history book. I know that before I even got my 1st zebra. Some one up north says he was successful in breeding zebras. He made that post at the zebrapleco forum. I must have sent him 5 or 6 emails back then. But not 1 single reply.

Oh and I don't think Bwiskered (Charlie) have any as well. Because with his skills, his tanks would've been overflowing be baby zebras and he'll be selling them for $50 each.


Kyle has a few as well. Not to many around thats for sure.
Does he still? I heard one rumour that all of his didn't make it. :( I didn't ask him about it because things like this can really hit a sore point.
To be honest with you, I have doubt about yours surviving when I heard about the size of your fry, when you first got them. I guess your experience with pleco help pull them thru. Thinking back, I still think you're insane to have picked them up from Detroit and drive them all the way back. But if I was in your shoes, I guess I would've done the same.
When you start breeding, you find that fry that small weren't meant to take that kind of stress.

And lastly, Jordsonsmum, be patient. Good things will come to you in good time. At least 3 people have had spawn(s) in Ontario. More will eventually show up.

[Katalyst]

End of the summer I'm either taking a ride to Jersey or Ohio for mine. Prolly Jersey since its a state away from where I grew up. Kristy did you convince Pat to sell you some of his long fin red calico's yet?

[Katalyst]

doesn't Bwiskered keep zebras?

I don't believe he does.

[Dr.Stretch]

I was at Charleys' place I think in spring of last year to get my first (official) groups of plecos and at that time he didn't have any L46s.
I'm not sure if he has since acquired a few. But with Charleys' reputation he would probably get them free or dirt cheap, compared to the rest of us who have to dip into our RRSPs and our kids collage fund to afford these rare gems.

[Katalyst]

And he'd get them to breed 90 babies at a time! :D

[Charles]

I am also looking for some young one too... :)

[jordsonsmum]

Hi guy'n' gals. I'm sorry I neglected this thread after starting it. I started a full time job and have been balancing single parenting for five months, full time work and a lot of house and yard work. I don't have as much time for the pc as I used to as all of my evening time is dedicated to my fish babes after my other babes hit the hay...LOL

I'm still desperately searching for these guys. We've got a bunch of people over here who would like to go in on a group purchase and we'd be able to mix and match sexes once they were grown out. I'd really like to breed them to make them more accessable to the pleco lovers and way more affordable. If anyone hears of some , please let me know. I always try to pay back favors with fry that come from the pleco's I get.

Thanks all,
PS.. how is everyone doing?? Any really cool , successful breeding happening for anyone??

Kat... Pat's LF Calico BN aren't grown out fully yet that I know of. They weren't breeding yet when I was there. I keep telling him to dim the lights, light some candles and play soft music...LOL

[KnaveTO]

I know of some that may be comming into the GTA this week. Although I have fist dibs on what arrives :p

Will let you know how many and how much.

[jordsonsmum]

I know of some that may be comming into the GTA this week. Although I have fist dibs on what arrives :p

Will let you know how many and how much.

OH YES PLEASE!!!! BTW what's GTA??

[KnaveTO]

Greater Toronto Area... also known out here as the Greater Taxation Area LOL

[jordsonsmum]

Greater Toronto Area... also known out here as the Greater Taxation Area LOL

ROFL.. that's pretty sad that I didn't know that. I'm FROM Kitchener!!! LOL

[BooUrns!]

Hi Kristy,

I think Kootenrays and Meatheadmike off of BCA have zeb's. Mike's were a recent purchase from Imer. I'm not sure if Kootenay has had any luck breeding his group yet. Barbie down in Spokane has a group and I know of quite a few people here in edm and calgary that have groups. There's one guy here in town selling fry for a fortune and another one in Calgary wo claims to have fry growing out currently.

There are a lot more zebs out there but most people keep silent about them. It fosters the perceived scarcity that justifies the high prices.

[KnaveTO]

Why are people so secretive about having these guys... I really just don't get it. I have 4 of them right now and am getting two more as soon as they come in (next week hopefully). The store whee I am getting them from is Alternative Aquariums in Burlington, ON. Not telling people that are known to love and treat these fish properly is a disservice to the LFS's you deal with as well as the species.

[CanadaPleco]

Why are people so secretive about having these guys... I really just don't get it. I have 4 of them right now and am getting two more as soon as they come in (next week hopefully). The store whee I am getting them from is Alternative Aquariums in Burlington, ON. Not telling people that are known to love and treat these fish properly is a disservice to the LFS's you deal with as well as the species.


Couldn't agree with you more on this.

Rich

[Katalyst]

Why are people so secretive about having these guys... I really just don't get it. I have 4 of them right now and am getting two more as soon as they come in (next week hopefully). The store whee I am getting them from is Alternative Aquariums in Burlington, ON. Not telling people that are known to love and treat these fish properly is a disservice to the LFS's you deal with as well as the species.

I find a lot of hobbyists like this not only with zebra's but with shrimp and everything else. I've had people tell me not to tell anyone I had long finned L144's or make me promise I wouldn't tell anyone they had long finned red calico's. I call it CDS Cloak & Dagger Syndrome.

For some I think its a big race to see who can get what the fastest and breed it before anyone else. I even recently had someone tell me flat out they wouldn't sell me pymy cories because I'd breed them which honestly I have no desire to do I just think their cute. I found them in the store and paid $1.49 for them for crying out loud.

[Charles]

Kate, they just can't breed them the way you do :) I know the LF L144 a while back but never a LF kind of guy. But I still am in hunt for some L134 if you happen to have some :)

[BooUrns!]

Muahaha Charles! I just bought two off a lady who is moving to Van this week! Also got a 6" mango from her. Beautiful fish and they're staying in AB! :)

[Charles]

6" mango... Nice...

[KnaveTO]

I find a lot of hobbyists like this not only with zebra's but with shrimp and everything else. I've had people tell me not to tell anyone I had long finned L144's or make me promise I wouldn't tell anyone they had long finned red calico's. I call it CDS Cloak & Dagger Syndrome.

For some I think its a big race to see who can get what the fastest and breed it before anyone else. I even recently had someone tell me flat out they wouldn't sell me pymy cories because I'd breed them which honestly I have no desire to do I just think their cute. I found them in the store and paid $1.49 for them for crying out loud.


Before I forget... I want some of your water there Kate... LOL

People who are like that are people who should not be in the hobby. They are doing nothing more than profiting from fish and are not in it for the enjoyment of the species but the enjoyment of the money they can make from people like ourselves that purchase fish from them.

[Zebrapl3co]

Hmm, now that you mentioned it KnaveTO. It does look that way. I remember that I have to seek out zebra pleco owners 3 or 4 years a go to talk to them about zebras and what's a good food their zebra likes and what kind of setup they make and stuff like that. Most of them more or less ingored me or gives me a two or three word answers. I just keep moving on and ask other people. Ironically, the only people that help me the most were from people who didn't own a zebra pleco. Funny how things worked out. Lets hope thats not the way things goes at this site.
Peter

[CanadaPleco]

Kate, they just can't breed them the way you do :) I know the LF L144 a while back but never a LF kind of guy. But I still am in hunt for some L134 if you happen to have some :)

I may have found some for ya.

[Charles]

kewl... now when .... give me give me give me... now please :)

[KnaveTO]

Well I do have to say that everyone here so far has been very accomodating and forthright about any and all species of pl*co. That forthrightness has included who has what, wghos is breeding what and general care and upkeep information, unlike certain other sites which shall remain nameless.

[Rush2112]

Ross, you're one of the most helpful here...providing good information, telling people where to buy plecos etc. I hope you breed your new zebra plecos soon.

Gino

[KnaveTO]

Ross, you're one of the most helpful here...providing good information, telling people where to buy plecos etc. I hope you breed your new zebra plecos soon.

Gino

Thanks! Compliments such as that are always appreciated. I view most on here as just as knowledgeable if not more knowledgeable than I.

[ameekplec]

Well I do have to say that everyone here so far has been very accomodating and forthright about any and all species of pl*co. That forthrightness has included who has what, wghos is breeding what and general care and upkeep information, unlike certain other sites which shall remain nameless.

I couldn't agree more with this sentiment. As someone who is relatively new to plecos and the whole online fish community (I live under a rock in the forest apparently), I've got a lot of support and advice,as well as warnings and the like, which have all been a great help.

It would be nice to see something on this site like an index of sorts of who is keeping what and husbandry notes and such. It would be useful to all people to see who can be asked for advice, etc, given their experience with particular species.

Maybe just something I'd like to see (seeing that I am new to the scene), but I'm sure it would be of great benefit to others as well. I know the breeding logs and such are set up, but maybe just a chance to say what we have so that we can just ask specific questions about particular species.

All in all, people over here are very nice, and willing to help out when they are needed, which is very good. I personally look forward to meeting some of the people on here in person!

[jordsonsmum]

I think it's silly to hide what you have. I'd rather swap and share with others so I can share the enjoyment. What's the point of having something beautiful if you can't share it with others?? It's not enjoyable anymore!!!

People are strange sometmes.

Speaking of breeding... i'm trying REAAAAALLY hard to get my LDA 31 to spawn. The male was fanning for a few days during a low front. Then the female waited at the cave for him for TWO DAYS!!!! The BIG GOOF ingnored her and nothing happened :( If anyone's got any ideas to chuck my way. Feel free. I may have forgotten something.

I've been feeding lots of Mosq Larvae, blood worms, Mysis etc....
Cold water changes during low fronts
Lots of caves and Driftwood.
PH is around 7.2
Tons of current passing in front of the cave but not overpowering...

My L144's, AB LF BN, LF bronze corys, pepper corys and rainbow fish are spawning like mad.. so water should be good. I have to be missing something with these two. They're alone in their own tank.

[klc]

I guess there's just no magic in the air! Keep trying, they may still get it right.

[CanadaPleco]

I'm sure you'll get em going someday :) Hopefully soon! Would love to see some babies and maybe even persuade you to ship some to Ontario.

[Zebrapl3co]

...Speaking of breeding... i'm trying REAAAAALLY hard to get my LDA 31 to spawn. The male was fanning for a few days during a low front. Then the female waited at the cave for him for TWO DAYS!!!! The BIG GOOF ingnored her and nothing happened :( If anyone's got any ideas to chuck my way. Feel free. I may have forgotten something.

I've been feeding lots of Mosq Larvae, blood worms, Mysis etc....
Cold water changes during low fronts
Lots of caves and Driftwood.
PH is around 7.2
Tons of current passing in front of the cave but not overpowering....
Hmm, that sounds about right. If you see fanning and a show of interest from the female, then you're getting real close. You just need that last something to get them to spawn. Try looking into their confort zone. Position of the cave and the currents (should be close to perpendicular). Is the male skittish? (easy to be scared). The size of the cave, possible that the male failed to trap the female.
From my expereince, I do have 1 pair that have difficulty breeding. And I highly suspect that it's the male that is having problems. He's too scare and possibly mental (He takes off when the female occupy his cave) . There is also the possibility that he's also too old to breed as well. So you might want to see if you can guess the age of your pleco.

good luck,
Peter

[jordsonsmum]

Thank you for your info Peter. It is all very helpful. I've hummed and hawed over the current. I'm going to try moving things around and see if it helps. Also will look at the size of the cave. I just feel like i'm sooooooo close after seeing the fanning and the female waiting for him at the cave. Neither are very skiddish. In fact, I was telling charles that I can't get over how they never hide, even with a few options in places to hide.

Thanks again
Cheers
Kristy