Pleco people, L10A?

I always look for interesting Plecos when I'm out and about. I came across a pair of "Red Lizard Pleco" (L10A) at a Louisville Tropical Fish Fanciers (LTFF) auction I attended a few weeks ago. As you're laughing (I can tell) at the name of the local fish club I belong to, keep in mind that these guys have been an organized club for over 70 years.

I won the pair for $17 in an intense bidding war with another member. The bid went up by 50 cents each time we bid, so it took a while =). I also won a brand new Magnum canister filter that one of our LFS's donated to the auction for $9..hahah.

Back to the Pleco. These guys are amazing! However, I can find very little on the breeding of these bad boys. I was assured they are male and female by the seller. Anyone have any experience with these Pleco? I have never seen them before and would like to breed them if I can.

They currently live in my Tang tank with some Blue Zaire Fronts, Gold Head Comps, Bristle Nose Pleco, Black Calvus and White Calvus. Tank parameters are typical Tanganyika. My Bristle Nose pair (surprisingly) had a spawn in the tank. I lost the babies as I had no idea they even spawned until I cleaned the tank and a crap load of wigglers exploded from a hole in my holy rock. The Cichlids went nuts and devoured all of them, I think. I haven't seen one since.

I have other tanks I can set up just for these guys, but breeding pleco is not my forte. Any advice would be welcomed!

Thanks in advance!

Your favorite expatriate,
Spyral

I cant tell you anything about breeding them, but I would love to see pictures!!

Yea.. whats the big idea posting all that about a cool fish and no pics!!

I'll snap some when I get home, but here's a stock interweb photo:

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wow! those look awesome! did you ship them to yourself from KY?

Nope. I live in KY now. I drove them home.

Cool looking pleco!  There is an article on breeding them on Planet Catfish if you haven't seen it yet.  I remember seeing info in their forum as well.  You might be able to find something if you search the forum. Here's the link to the article --  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

(I still have those two leopard frog plecos I got from you. I think they are the same sex or I suck at getting them to breed.)

Very unique looking fish. Give them a variety of foods and enough care, and they will give you babies. Good luck with them!

Betty wrote:Cool looking pleco!  There is an article on breeding them on Planet Catfish if you haven't seen it yet.  I remember seeing info in their forum as well.  You might be able to find something if you search the forum. Here's the link to the article --  [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

(I still have those two leopard frog plecos I got from you. I think they are the same sex or I suck at getting them to breed.)

Wow, very informative, thanks Betty! I believe these are the "pure" species. The reason I say this is because mine are adults and are still beautifully red and they are leaf hangers, not bottom dwellers. I'm going to take the articles advice and put a PVC tube on the wall of my tank for them to spawn in.

That's awesome you still have those Leopard Frog Pleco! I want to get a few here soon.

I didn't catch that you live in KY lol sorry

MorganEA wrote:I didn't catch that you live in KY lol sorry

Former Seattle resident..haha

Nice pleco. Very nice. How big those suckers get?

SiRWesDragon wrote:Nice pleco. Very nice. How big those suckers get?

Nice pun, lol!

Interesting looking for sure, doesn't have your typical pleco look to them.

Very interesting pleco!

SiRWesDragon wrote:Nice pleco. Very nice. How big those suckers get?

4-1/2 to 5" is fully grown.

Just the way I like them. Not like the common pleco.

I breed mine in the same caves that I use for my bushy noses. They like it kinda tight with a good water flow just outside the cave but not directed into the cave. A good water change with cooler water will usually start them up. It also never hurts to power feed them before the water change. I have had 2 spawns with only 4 babies surviving into adulthood. For that I'm grateful for since I let the parents do all the work and try not to intrude. The color of the fish turn more orange when its breeding time with the female being the broader fish. I like to feed them fresh greens and frozen bloodworms and Gigi's wonder food on a daily feeding. I tried Rapashy "meat pie" but they turn their little noses up and avoid it including the new stuff called "morning wood" for shame.

Thanks, Salzabar! I think these guys will be getting their own 20 long so they can be alone!