just start your breeding attempt. Therefore breeding pleco’s is more than likely a long term activity. This however gives you plenty of time to observe and condition your fish. Because you are most likely unable to replace a mature fish, if it dies, with another mature fish you learn to take care of your fish. Because the water in New Zealand is so good for breeding pleco’s you have the opportunity to be rewarded by your pleco’s breeding just by being a good aquarist, and developing good aquarium husbandry skills. Tiger pleco female Panaqolus sp. L002 Photo: Darren Stevens
Peckolita sp. L140 in Geoff Haglund’s tank Photo: Caryl Simpson
Using the above techniques I have been able to breed the following: Hypancistrus L046, L129, L270, Panaqolus L002, L104, Peckoltia L134, L140, Ancistrus ranunculus L034 and Baryancistrus beggini L239. Future of Pleco breeding in New Zealand: I have grave concerns for the future of Pleco breeding in New Zealand. Two years ago there were easily 12 Pleco breeders in New Zealand. Today I have struggled to identify 3. The cost of these fish and their natural tendency to hide away has meant that there seems to be very little interest is this type of fish. To the untrained eyes, I have fish in only 1/3 of the tanks in my fish room. It is difficult to obtain new specimens and species of L-Number fish in New Zealand, and the likelihood of new specimens and species being imported into New Zealand appears to be diminishing as there is no business return for the importers.
Aquarium World
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