My GN set up

[SilverDub]

I havent seen much Baryancistrus representation on this forum, so here are my beauties. I have 6 living a 350ltr set up, mixed slate caves, curio wood and 2 JBL externals and a 6,000 l/hr SEIO powerhead.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09005.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09006.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09013.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09015.jpg

[SilverDub]

Feeding time....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09002.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09011.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09014.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09016.jpg
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y125/Alan293/PlecosMay09019.jpg

[chilicrabz]

Are you able to determine their sexes??? If so, any trappings sighted?

[SilverDub]

The male is the largest one, I've had the 2 big ones since Dec 08.

Similarly with lots of Loricads the male appears to has noticably thicker & first pectoral rays. There is also a noticable differance in the pitch/angle of the head. The male has a strong robust head which raises about at about 45 degs. The female has much more gently sloping head, probably about 30 degs that gently slopes to the front of the dorsal.

The male which I think is maturer had much longer chew chews, mysteriously he dropped them a month or so ago (about the time I introduced the Papa) they are growing back quite nicely though.

I have witnessed some sexual activity between the 2 larger ones. Both times it was iniated by the smaller female. She approached the male whilst he was eating and started ventral shaking towards him, if he ignored her she would get closer and nudge him. Usually at this point he would crash in to her and chase around the tank. However he was much more gentle, and started ventral shaking back towards her. I managed to capture this in the first 2 images in this thread. Also notice the dramatic colour change in the female, she goes very pale during this action.

Unfortunately a lot of Baryancistrus kept by the average hobbyist dont provide them with conditions they require. I imagine that more than 50% of the fish exported very often will endup dead within 6 months, I suspect alot of them ending feeding well but being fed the wrong diet and ending up malnutrition. Through research I discovered they have 3 key requirements 1) Diet, mainly vegetable based - I feed fresh fruit/veg every day there favourites are raw courgette (zucchini), raw sweet potato and fresh sliced mango, also enjoyed is steamed brocolli, carrot and baby sweetcorn. 2) Temp, I keep the tempreture very high it is always 28-30degs 3) Oxygen Levels - I have 2 1500l/hr external filters however these are no match for the waste and excess veg they have to cope with. For current and oxygen i use a 6000l/hr SEIO powerhead and the GNs love it. i;ve seen the female sitting within an inch of the pump for some extreme rock gripping.

Usually Barys are considered slow growing species. This I disagree with, i have seen noticeable growth and maturity in all 6 specimens I have.

Any more questions please ask, I love sharing what I have learnt about them, also if you can pass on the message about there diet to any anyone keeping them so we can try to stop the mass dying that occurs.

Peace

[matubula]

They dont half look good do they. I love the pic of the brocolli, reminds of an immature scene with the Tod off of Scrubs. I hope they breed for you.

[Edmundo]

The male is the largest one, I've had the 2 big ones since Dec 08.

Similarly with lots of Loricads the male appears to has noticably thicker & first pectoral rays. There is also a noticable differance in the pitch/angle of the head. The male has a strong robust head which raises about at about 45 degs. The female has much more gently sloping head, probably about 30 degs that gently slopes to the front of the dorsal.

The male which I think is maturer had much longer chew chews, mysteriously he dropped them a month or so ago (about the time I introduced the Papa) they are growing back quite nicely though.

I have witnessed some sexual activity between the 2 larger ones. Both times it was iniated by the smaller female. She approached the male whilst he was eating and started ventral shaking towards him, if he ignored her she would get closer and nudge him. Usually at this point he would crash in to her and chase around the tank. However he was much more gentle, and started ventral shaking back towards her. I managed to capture this in the first 2 images in this thread. Also notice the dramatic colour change in the female, she goes very pale during this action.

Unfortunately a lot of Baryancistrus kept by the average hobbyist dont provide them with conditions they require. I imagine that more than 50% of the fish exported very often will endup dead within 6 months, I suspect alot of them ending feeding well but being fed the wrong diet and ending up malnutrition. Through research I discovered they have 3 key requirements 1) Diet, mainly vegetable based - I feed fresh fruit/veg every day there favourites are raw courgette (zucchini), raw sweet potato and fresh sliced mango, also enjoyed is steamed brocolli, carrot and baby sweetcorn. 2) Temp, I keep the tempreture very high it is always 28-30degs 3) Oxygen Levels - I have 2 1500l/hr external filters however these are no match for the waste and excess veg they have to cope with. For current and oxygen i use a 6000l/hr SEIO powerhead and the GNs love it. i;ve seen the female sitting within an inch of the pump for some extreme rock gripping.

Usually Barys are considered slow growing species. This I disagree with, i have seen noticeable growth and maturity in all 6 specimens I have.

Any more questions please ask, I love sharing what I have learnt about them, also if you can pass on the message about there diet to any anyone keeping them so we can try to stop the mass dying that occurs.

Peace

Thanks for sharing gathered some interesting experience from you.

[SilverDub]

Your welcome Edmundo, its nice to be able to contribute on what is becoming my specialist subject. I have learnt so much in a week about Psueda & Panaque since visiting this site.

[chilicrabz]

Usually Barys are considered slow growing species. This I disagree with, i have seen noticeable growth and maturity in all 6 specimens I have.

Peace

What's their growth rate like on average? For a juvenile that we can get from a fish store at around 3 inch, how long does it takes to reach 11??

4 years? or longer than that.

[SilverDub]

I cheated Chili,

The alpha was already a 10" fish, but he is a much chunkier fish now.

The female again has put on girth and bulk.

It is the 4 juveniles that i notice the differance. I've had them since Decmber 08, they were all about the same size, 7 months later and 2 of them are a clear inch larger than the other 2, and the level of competition has intensified between these 2, I think they are going through theyre own miniature Alpha dispute.

Honestly, all I do is feed them well, my maintenance isn't as often as I'd like to them to be. So with better water, bigger tank and better filtration (tanks like lots of other people seem to have) I'm certain they would be much faster growing.

*update, 30 mins ago I put a 4" chink of courgette (zuchinni) with 15mins the skin was completely gone of both halfs, this is definately there favourite veg.

[barmby]

Wah! The pictures simply rock!

[SilverDub]

Thanks Barmby, I have to take so many to get a couple of half decent ones. My tank water is naturally stained makes it difficult get gright pics.

[SilverDub]

I have been offered the opportunity of putting my pair into 1000g tropical pond, a freind has a serious algae issue and wants to trial them before ordering 6 big ones from Brazil.

What should I do? Might be a good opportunity for them to breed.