Setting up Hypancistrus Zebra Breeding Tanks.

[Gecko]

Sharing with members here the process I took to setup my twin sets of 4x2x2. Each tank was initially filtered by a Pro3 + a 2028. Recently further upgraded by adding another Pro 3 each (thanks to PCS member deals and Edmundo's help)...Pro3x2 +2028 per tank....this is to maintain top water parameters, increase water volume, and backing up my backup. Over filteration...maybe but zebras come from deep clean water....

Initially I had a 5ft tank. Decided to fully focus on zebras, hence, learning from past painful experience with other spp., decided to have backups and doubles of everything. So that if ever poo happens, I can isolate the situation and not experience a complete wipe out.

As these tanks are sitting in my family room, I wanted them to be done aesthetically pleasing and hopefully replicate their biotope so I have a piece of the Amazon river right in my home. Hence I decided to avoid the sterile breeding barracks look although it could have improved my maintenance schedule. Both looks have proven successful so it is down to personal choice and preference. The side of the room is about 10 ft. I could have a 8ft tank or a 4 ft x2. So decided for the latter for reasons discussed.

I started by trying to google for underwater Rio Xingu pics....surprisingly there was none! During the last aquarama, Neil from Pier Aq visited our PCS booth and Akoh and I managed to ask him about the zebra biotope as he has personally collected zebras before. His answers that I can recall were basically rocks, deep water, no plants, strong current (he needed to weight himself down) and caves/holes.

So I embarked on my journey to replace my 5ft.....

Original 5ft tank which can view from both sides. Credit and thanks to Akoh for cutting the pvc pipes as breeding caves...they are still very popular breeding caves in the new tanks. Also Akoh for sharing his breeding secrets and opening Pleco Hut for numerous visits.

The red substrate although great as bio filters too would be replaced as the color is not natural.
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=13213

My first breeding Alpha male:
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=13214

Babies in 5ft tank...took a risk on disturbing the breeding colony in order to provide a better environment for them...
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=14317

[Gecko]

While waiting for the new tanks to arrive, some planning is required. Doing a headcount, I realized my sex ratio was quite 50:50. I also have to decide if I would have a breeding tank and a grow up tank OR two breeding colonies...finally decided to go with 2 breeding colonies. Please refer to Akoh or celticfish for more technical questions as I have been very laidback, did not do much documentation etc.

Also decided to craft some natural looking caves...these were before you could order on the net...and I needed more caves.
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16274
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16273

[Gecko]

Started buying and preparing Drift wood, lapis sand, slates, cannisters were all ready to roll when the tanks arrived....

Setting up...
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16299
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16298
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16272
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16908
http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16293

[Gecko]

After cycling the new tanks, the day to tear down the old tank has come...

Catching the adults out and sexing them to divide into 2 colonies was more an art than science....babies were subsequently sold off...

http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16912

http://www.plecofanatics.com/gallery/displayimage.php?imageid=16911

[Gecko]

This is the latest when Chris and Ed visited...the zebras started breeding after 3 months of settling into their new tanks.

http://www.plecoclub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=727&highlight=visit+gecko

I think the key ingredients for successfully breeding zebras are not hard to achieve...except maybe for luck.

1. Luck (when they are ready, or in the mood)
2. Male + Female within a colony (solo pair might be hard)
3. Good water parameters, highly oxygenated water. (my pH is about 6.8 to 7, temp about 29 to 29 C, others unknown)
4. I feed Hikari sinking carni and wafers only....maybe my sturis babies became a great source of live feeders.
5. Caves
6. I noticed more breeding activities during rainy seasons...I did not artificially adjust water temperature or big water change to stimulate them...natural barometric pressure should be at work....
7. I do fortnightly water change of 15%, genesis during wc, ezlife after.

I have kids at home running around and knocking the tanks, but that did not disturb the breeding...it is the initial months of shining torch light into their caves which disturbed them...

Hope this is useful or at least an enjoyable read.

Cheers and Good Luck!

[titan power]

bro

Thanks for sharing, enjoyed reading it :D

[Edmundo]

Great info, hope i can have a piece of mine very own soon..... not L46s though, hopefully my hypancistruses from lower xingu....... :)

Also more motivated to get my current juvs zebbie into adulthood. :)

Btw, those funny funny hyan manage to have any results or maybe any actions?

[Gecko]

bro what is funny funny hyan? looking forward to Titan's report soon as he started his lower xingu and L66 breeding tanks...and of course his L134 program as well....I only have 5 funny hyan right now still juve:)

[SoToNgMaN]

bro what is funny funny hyan? looking forward to Titan's report soon as he started his lower xingu and L66 breeding tanks...and of course his L134 program as well....I only have 5 funny hyan right now still juve:)
Should I recall correctly ...

Breeders have equivalent "mod" powers within threads created by respective breeders in this section.

*Does that sound confusing?*

In simple, dun play play with thread owners of this section .... they have full authority ...

[Edmundo]

bro what is funny funny hyan? looking forward to Titan's report soon as he started his lower xingu and L66 breeding tanks...and of course his L134 program as well....I only have 5 funny hyan right now still juve:)

i mean those wired strips fellow. :)

[titan power]

bro what is funny funny hyan? looking forward to Titan's report soon as he started his lower xingu and L66 breeding tanks...and of course his L134 program as well....I only have 5 funny hyan right now still juve:)

bro later if they dun breed i will be very pai seh leh :o

[Jordi]

veri nice. very natural tank setups
i dun see any caves i think?
not needed liao? :)

[Gecko]

Caves are needed to breed zebras...see the link when Chris visited.

The initial setup caves not added yet...later on maybe hidden under slates and DW, thats why you didnt see.

[TRIX]

bro later if they dun breed i will be very pai seh leh :o

No need paiseh, pass back to me:D

[Gecko]

Sharing good news with members here...last night saw a proud daddy zebra herding his babies still with egg sac back into the cave. It is on the left corner of this tank cave hidden under a slate.

http://www.plecoclub.org/forum/imagehosting/thum_148b9713839eec.jpg

This is great for me as I have rearranged and disturbed the tank quite a bit and glad to know the breeding has resumed.

[Edmundo]

Great news! waiting for more pics. :)

[Savant]

Congratulations indeed...

[Gecko]

Thanks guys. Tried but the daddy's massive body keep shielding the babies, pics not clear...titanpower was over and only managed to see a couple of wriggling tails and one small guy which got pushed up to the ceiling of the cave during the panic:D Maybe let him be for a while more, I placed a small driftwood in front, when they are ready, they will come out.

[wllm33]

hi,
can know if your tank is bare bottom or still with some sand.
also your tank is eventually 4 footer and how many L046 inside.
how many and types of filters do u need to keep the water in pristine conditions?
thanks for your sharing.
cheers.

[Gecko]

hi,
can know if your tank is bare bottom or still with some sand.
also your tank is eventually 4 footer and how many L046 inside.
how many and types of filters do u need to keep the water in pristine conditions?
thanks for your sharing.
cheers.

Hi bro

1. Lapis sand
2. 4 footer with 30+ big and small...
3. 2xpro3 plus 1 x2028 = total 3 cannisters

cheers

[wllm33]

Hi bro

1. Lapis sand
2. 4 footer with 30+ big and small...
3. 2xpro3 plus 1 x2028 = total 3 cannisters

cheers
thanks for the information.
wow, that is a lot of cannisters.
do you think a 2 footer will need a cannister or just an overhead will do?
your tank looks very bright in the pic. do you usually on the light or only during the pic taking?
i keep mine dark as what is advised but can hardly see them and worse if they are sick and you not able to detect the signs cos of poor light.
please advise.
thanks

[Gecko]

i have a 2 footer with 4 hypans filtered by 2 x 2213. ohf might be good for mechanical filteration, so having both is good....

they come from deep water so not used to bright lights, however after years of captivity, they are used to it...so no hard and fast rule with lights IMHO.

[wllm33]

i have a 2 footer with 4 hypans filtered by 2 x 2213. ohf might be good for mechanical filteration, so having both is good....

they come from deep water so not used to bright lights, however after years of captivity, they are used to it...so no hard and fast rule with lights IMHO.
hi,
can know what is the flow rate for the 2213?
will the current be too strong for a 2 footer?
i am thinking of getting a cannister for my 2 footer but the ohf is already a bit strong with the air bubbles outlet also.
i also use a hanging small filter.
thnks.

[Mr.XPlecos]

i've seen that you've made most of your breeding caves. what are the ideal depth and opening dimensions deemed suitable?