Pleco eggs!

Well last week I figured I would finally give my BN plecos some caves to breed in since this is my first time attempting to breed a pleco. I checked out some caves online and figured I could save a few bucks so I hacked up some old 1" PVC pipe I had laying around into 6" pieces and went to work slaving over my kitchen stove as I melted one end of each of them closed, rinsed them off good and tossed them in the tank. At first they all seemed a bit skeptical of these foreign objects but soon moved into their new homes. I just noticed tonight I have cluster of yellow eggs in one as daddy stands guard and fans them. For those of you who have done this before, how long till that hatch? On a side note I'm going to be taking my tank down for a few days soon to reseal and do a total makeover so everyone in it will be moved to 2x30g for temporary holding. Is anyone in the area interested in some wee little fry, if so I'll get my breeder boxes out and raise some of these guys. If not I'll just let them do their thing and once I get my tank reset up I'll start trying to breed them for real.
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Don't know why it's anti gravity? Sorry haha.

Congrats on the spawn.   
It doesn't take them long at all. They went from picture #1 to Picture #4 in less than a week.
This was one of my pleco's early spawns when he had kicked all of the eggs out of the log.  I put them in a breeder box to let them develop.

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Awesome.

If everything goes well and they survive Nick, i wouldnt mind getting a couple. Its always nice to buy fish and know exactly where they came from! haha.

Awesome! Congrats

I absolutely want fry but it is so tough to reach you. Will you be going to the Aquarium Cartel swap meet in Auburn this week end?

Congrats!  

Congrats on the new upcoming baby plecos...and Betty ... your photos always make me smile. They are awesome.

Congrats on the spawn! Are those the plecos you got from me?
Interesting idea to use molded PVC, I would be too concerned about buoyancy and chemicals leaking into the tank, but definitely peeked my interest!

Betty, you are a professional for sure! lol I have yet to even touch the eggs that come out of the caves. Did you have to give them an airstone or just left them alone in the box?

CrazedAce wrote:Congrats on the spawn! Are those the plecos you got from me?
Interesting idea to use molded PVC, I would be too concerned about buoyancy and chemicals leaking into the tank, but definitely peeked my interest!

Yes they are the ones I got from you finally spawning. As for the PVC I figured it's about the right size and sinks well but I don't think it will leak any chemicals or at least I hope not because a lot of our water pipes are PVC plus most sumps lines and filters are made of PVC so I don't see there being any problem although I did soak them in very hot water after I fused the ends closed and then rinsed them in cold water but I never thought about just putting a end cap on it Head Wall lol! I guess that would have been just to easy!

Hey if u breed albino BN to albino BN do you get all albinos

Hmm, it sinks... Well I may have to spend a couple dollars to make one then.

Earthfish; No, it is all random, though I'm sure being albino they would both be throwing the gene, so a good chance of them being at least 50%. Though my current breeders are a male common and two female albino. I've had 75% albino in one spawn and maybe 25% in another. Varies a lot.

Hey Nick_87, if you're having some trouble with the fry, I would gladly take one for my grow tank. Up to you but a home is a home. Let me know if you need a few bucks or if you'd rather have a home.

Thanks Donna and CrazedAce.  I use an airstone sometimes, but it doesn't seem to be a necessity.  I found another clump of eggs yesterday.    They just won't stop!

CrazedAce wrote:Hmm, it sinks... Well I may have to spend a couple dollars to make one then.

Earthfish; No, it is all random, though I'm sure being albino they would both be throwing the gene, so a good chance of them being at least 50%. Though my current breeders are a male common and two female albino. I've had 75% albino in one spawn and maybe 25% in another. Varies a lot.

Okay i have a BN pair. ive spawned then 4 times 100% albino everytime

Just wanted to post an update. Just a few days after the first clutch of eggs were laid I found another even larger clump in another cave. First batch hatched about 4 days ago and the second hatched today. 30+ in the first hatch growing fast (50/50 ratio albino/normal) and already started to eat. Second clutch has 50+ wigglers (color to be determined in a few days). Here is a pic of the second clutch just a few hours after hatching.
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Whats the typical survival rate on pleco spawns, 90%?

Those are some really neat pictures, HD even. Wish I could get something to spawn.... Maybe I'll get Kribs again. I miss watching the process of spawning and raising young.

Loving these baby pleco pics from everyone. Very nice update!!!

Cute! That's a great pic.

 

Great photo!

Love these photos!!