Welcome back guys. Good to see you are all safe and sound. May I also add that the I am sure the "distinct taste for scotsmen" must come about from the fine quality of "grain" and "hops" the scottish body is so often accustomed too!

Rob

Looks good, loads up just fine in IE and Firefox at this end!!!

Toolbar is easier to navigate, and looks very tidy.

Compliments to the chef!

Oh, and of course, the zebrapleco.com link looks excellent!

rob

Hi Mike

Most first spawns of hypancistrus zebra are infertile, although if you seen "veins", they might just be ok. Make sure you have an airstone close to the eggs to encourage water movement, (this will take the place of the male cleaning the eggs with his mouth).

Keep your fingers crossed, and ...

Nice one Plecoboy.

This will probably just the start. As barbie sated, the first spawn is usually infertile, however it is quite common for the female to spawn again within a short period of time. Half of the battle is getting a male that is willing, and a female that is interested! :lol:

Good ...

Hi Guys

There are various rumours going round about the reasons behind the decline in numbers avaiable to the aquatic trade. The ban on exports from brazil does not seem to be correct as they do seem readily available on the import lists, just a high prices.

There is also a rumour that they are ...

Nice One Kenneth.

Just keep an eye on the yolk sack, you'll soon see when their hungary. if you can get it, tera or Discus Prima is a good starter food. it sinks to the bottom ad they can feed easily as it dissolves!


rob

Yup

Definately looks like a couple of nice a males!

Good looking fish!

rob

Hi James

As far as temp goes, I would say you were pretty near the mark. I increase my temp up to arounf 85-86, after a large water change. Before the increase I tend to let the temp drop by switching the heater off for a while.

As for the caves, I've had alot of luck with rectangular slate caves ...

if you want a little more info, check out the cat-elog, loads of good pics. Also do a search in the nav bar above, or look at my wee webpage

http://www.zebrapleco.com (replace the "*" with an "e")

good luck

rob

bloodworms good, but not all the time. 2 / 3 times a week, and chuck in a slice of corgette, every now and again. Tetra Prima is a good allrounder. sinks to the bottom, and is easily digested.

I've heard of people feeding them crushed peas, but I can never get the little buggers to sink!


rob

Hi dan

Go for a high flow rate, it's difficult to over filter a zebra tank. So use both filters. Cave wise, I use old slates, glued together with awuatic silicone. the width is usually about 8cm across, 10cm deep and 2.5 cm high, (this is about 1/3 higher than the fish itself, and allows the male ...

Hi Kevin

I've had experience of the male eating 2 clutches of eggs. Both times were after an extended period of husbandry. i.e 3 feamles one after the other spawning in his cave, all broods where succesfull. The first time it occured, the male had reased 4 consecutive spawns, the fifth spawn ...

Hi TiGrInUs

Personally I would go for the 3ft long tank. We'll never be able to re-create the depth that they are used to so you might as well try and re-create the river bed. By having the longer tank, you should be able to get more of a directional flow with your filtration.

The filters I use ...

Virginie

If you're talking abou the stipes, it's something I've certainly never heard of or been able to see. All of the zebras markings are different, and I've seen both male and female fish with both thick and thin markings. The front ray of the pecotrial fin is usually thicker on the male, maybe ...

Hi Virginie

Depending on how well the fish have been kept / fed, they should reach maturity at around 5-6cm, with quite a wide span across their pectorial fins. The males are easier to identifiy as they get older as the hairs on their pectorial fins become slight more prominant. You will also ...

seems a little ironic really.."put them on a prohibition list, now that we've sanctioned the damn that will wipe them out"

Bloodwworms a couple times a week, the odd slice of corgette, the odd crushed frozen pea, and as an all-rounder, Tetra Prima granules.

cheers

rob

Hi Fishboy

Congradulations, Here's hoping theres plenty more where that came from. I agree with L046, the fry need fattening up a bit. I've found mine go mad for "Tetra Prima", once thewy start, they eat pretty ferociously. Try and feed them a little 3 times a day, it's diificult to judge when they ...

Keep trying mate......thy're fussy little guys.

Try thick slate etc, to create cervices and boundaries. make sure the edges aren't too sharp.

good luck

rob

hi INXS

What size of tank are they in. It does sound like territorial squabbles. I ouwld suggest you keep up the water changes just now, and possible put in some more places to hide, seperating out the territories slightly. I've had a similar problem with one of my females, spent moths thinking she ...

Got to be th re-runs of friends as it is the only thing duller than spending your life in a glass box!!!...alternatively they were stuck to screen during Mr Blaines last stunt!!!!

Hi Chill

My pennies worth is top 2 at LHS are males, and the one on the LHS on the second picture also looks like a male, but thats just an (almost -educated) guess.

cheers

rob

HI Guys

Well one and four are as you all say males. 1 is pretty young, but four looks like he needs to get a little hareem going!! :lol: I think 3 is a young female as the pectorial fins are less crescent shaped.

Are they all in the same tank? what is the behavior between 4 and 3 like?

cheers

rob

Hi Guys

Cheese specialist. Are these the zebra's advertised on the uk only classifieds. If so, I spoke to nicola this morning about them, and she said she was unable to sex them. She was going to place pictures of them on the advert but was unable to get clear photographs.

As far as I am aware she ...

Hi ZebraL046

I have copies of your pics on my zebra site, ( you gave me permission some time ago, it just took an age for me to put them online). Anyway, they are at http://www.qems.biz/speciesinfo.htm

They are definately the best imagaes that I have seen, some high res shots would be excellent in ...

CHeers Guys, greatly appreciated.

I've got my riccia, and java moss to start with. I'll try and grow them on abit in a breeder, away from current ,and with a small fertiliser tab first. Then, hopefully in a few weeks they will be ready to plant.

cheers for all yer help.

rob

Sid... thats got to be one of the best fish anacdotes I've heard in ages!.....

cheers!

I think the prices will probably go up also. As far as I am aware, there are no imports of them at the moment. All the more reason for us all to get breeding them!!!

Hippy guy, at 1" they are probably just under a year old, (depending on how much they have been fed obviously). Have they been bred ...

Hey HIppyguy

Congradulations, I'm sure you'll be delighted with them. On transporting them, I would suggest you doublebag them individually. If you can get hold of one of those big polystyrene boxes, that would help. Although, even better than those are the big beer coolers. DO you have the tank ...

Magnum4, do you have problems with it breaking free and floating round the tank?

DO you have CO2 injection?

cheers

rob