L002 and L397 QUESTION
- Thread starter fishy
- Start date
Still breeding both, can't stop them. I only ever use tap water, I'm too concerned about contaminants in rain water. Feed them well, females plump up, I have had them breed from about 8cm and up. Numerous cave options for the males, more caves than fish as a standard rule. Sometimes they will spawn after a water change, or with an approaching low pressure / storm cell. Once they start they won't bloody stop, I have more L002 then I know what to do with.
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thank u for your time and info every one claims easy but honestly it is not as easy as sounds also by your info yalo5 my 002 big enough . i from now on just going to use tap water for them like you are just wanted to know yalo do you just poor tap water straight in tank or do you store treat it first as wish had my 002 constant like yours even just lay eggs once as been trying while now. thank you for your reply
breeding any L is not easy. One just needs to find the correct balance between food, water quality, even pairing of fish and set ups. That is why it is always a challange. I compare it to my 5ft set up with L134. For 3 years I have been trying to breed them and no success, yet at the fish store in their tank they breed like crazy, go figure. Find this balance and then the rest is taken over by nature. I use 50% rain water and 50% tap water and add conditioner to both. Good luck cheers jk :thumbup:
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hi j.k i totally agree that breeding not easy though understand were you coming from once they start hard bit done . also thank u for your time info as now i aware that you even add conditioner to rain water also you do half half i can try that to . i realised everyone has a different method thank you j.k for sharing yours as i like to learn and the more the better . happy holidays to all
I have always used tap water,I rarely use any conditioners and refuse to use rain water here as who knows what air borne contaminants might make its way I to my tanks. I use rain water to flush the loo and water my gardens. When we had the store we had discus breeding with straight tap water changes in the shop at head height to kids.
I have never had to work too hard for any species to breed except for the 134's. I just give them plenty of food, keep the water "clean" and provide ample cover and breeding sites.
interesting and concerning info as instantly when you hear rain water u think positive i never considered the pollution etc i store my tap or rainwater was told purify it is this correct
Each person has their own way of doing things and no one is ever going to be 100% correct! there are some things that work for people that might not work for others. Some folks use rain water with no issues, others have RO units etc. I age my water for 40ft of hose, but then again with the amount I change in comparison to the size of my systems it's probably negligible in its effects.
Basically there is no "right" or "wrong" as long as your fish are healthy and hopefully breeding things are good. If you can't get the breeding down then maybe you can adopt ome aspects that work for others. This L cat game is a continual learning process, and until every species has been kept and bred we will keep plodding along learning more and more as we go.
Basically there is no "right" or "wrong" as long as your fish are healthy and hopefully breeding things are good. If you can't get the breeding down then maybe you can adopt ome aspects that work for others. This L cat game is a continual learning process, and until every species has been kept and bred we will keep plodding along learning more and more as we go.
My L397 prefer the round ceramic log type caves which are sold as bristle nose caves.
They do have other slate type ones available but mine just prefer the logs.
They like to gnaw on wood quite a bit and sawdust is not easy to process in a filter. I removed the filter wool from my canisters and just use sponges in them. That way I am not fiddling with the canister all the time.
They need to be around 2 years old to begin breeding but many will take up to three years.
I have an internal pickup filter with a sponge which I rinse out ever water change in the outgoing old water.
I use all rain water as I don't trust our town water here. Lowood did have a mass catfish die off in their river from a virus and I am just not prepared to risk using town water even though treated.
Ph does seem to need to be low below 7 say but I don't think higher ph harms them either. They just might not breed quite as readily.
I don't pay too much notice of my tank temps but I did notice the other day my successful L397 breeding colony is in 28C and sometimes higher.
I feed Hikari algae wafers, one per two adults and a pinch of New Era cichlid green pellets. If they are lucky I might add a bit of cucumber but its maybe once a month.
I add new wood from time to time for them to eat.
Where my canister, power head and pickup filter pulls the debris down to one end of the tank, the adults will breed in the opposite end ensuring the caves don't get much debris there to fungus eggs and have good water circulation.
Putting a bit of slate or tile over the cave or even a big bit of wood makes them feel more private for breeding. They don't like direct light down on the entrance or inside the cave.
I prefer only two males in a tank. Any more and they run relays annoying the main alpha male. Likewise I prefer only a couple of females as they always seem to want to breed at the same one time which makes a bit of barging around the main males cave.
They do have other slate type ones available but mine just prefer the logs.
They like to gnaw on wood quite a bit and sawdust is not easy to process in a filter. I removed the filter wool from my canisters and just use sponges in them. That way I am not fiddling with the canister all the time.
They need to be around 2 years old to begin breeding but many will take up to three years.
I have an internal pickup filter with a sponge which I rinse out ever water change in the outgoing old water.
I use all rain water as I don't trust our town water here. Lowood did have a mass catfish die off in their river from a virus and I am just not prepared to risk using town water even though treated.
Ph does seem to need to be low below 7 say but I don't think higher ph harms them either. They just might not breed quite as readily.
I don't pay too much notice of my tank temps but I did notice the other day my successful L397 breeding colony is in 28C and sometimes higher.
I feed Hikari algae wafers, one per two adults and a pinch of New Era cichlid green pellets. If they are lucky I might add a bit of cucumber but its maybe once a month.
I add new wood from time to time for them to eat.
Where my canister, power head and pickup filter pulls the debris down to one end of the tank, the adults will breed in the opposite end ensuring the caves don't get much debris there to fungus eggs and have good water circulation.
Putting a bit of slate or tile over the cave or even a big bit of wood makes them feel more private for breeding. They don't like direct light down on the entrance or inside the cave.
I prefer only two males in a tank. Any more and they run relays annoying the main alpha male. Likewise I prefer only a couple of females as they always seem to want to breed at the same one time which makes a bit of barging around the main males cave.
they do alright yalo5 and reading your add shows you are correct every one different . i sold these as will not lie kind of got frustrated taking up room for nothing also my brother in law had his eye on them . thanks again as have learnt a lot by reading your advice why i read your advice and know you know is you were the only one having problem yalot5 on working out what plekings hemiancistrus was you had that feeling that is why or how i know you on the ball more than most of us keep it up yalo5t as all new members need it .
hi and thank you brenda my brother in law and i enjoyed also learnt from your add thank u and since u trying to help least can do return the help . now i giving away my secret this advice i willing to bet will get your 128 in breeding mood basically it is simple you cant get them in the mood they have to get them self in the mood how you do that you allow them to choose what were they want example food territorry were all do not allow is choice of temperature excep;t me lol now not cheap you will need a custom high very high tank simple but lots of tuning as you need a heater were maximum heat is up top like sun light in the wild and less heat at bottom also same as wild less sunlight that way you have established a high heat point a medium also a low heat point now your 128s can choose the temp they want to hang out in lol you will be shocked to see what heat point my pair chose just make sure a cave is in every heat point . i also let them choose food put few types what ever they take to eat first i just take out others beleive it or not do same tactic again and sometimes they will choose different from day before. meaning they prefer to choose than us choose for them and once you have them choosing for them self thats when they most comfy obviously especially wild caught they need to feel right at home . i should also note top my tank temp 34degree bottom ranging from 27 to 28 degree i willing to bet some fry you will notice your 128 way more at home and active . good luck and if trying the extra temp method add heat slowly let them get used to it first . i have only ever told one person of this now given away the secret as really want some one to breed 128s also you have a nice colony to do so