l204 breeding info

I only know of a handful of people who have done this, so info is rare. As far as I know, pH and softness really don't matter to any significant degree...also periodical protein feedings are important.

Have you sexed them. Barbie says the males have thornier petcoral fins and a crook in the boney part.

They are very territorial... and like was said before the people who have bred them aren't really sharing the secrets.

I would suggest a week or two of fasting then a week of a higher protien diet and rapid water change including temp/ pH/ dh.... I use a frozen gallon of water in the store. It's been R/O'd and drops the temp quick.

You might want to try with one of the spawning caves. From what I've heard the male will keep a domain and then eventually allow a female to come in... when she does he's going to trap her in there and beat the living crap out of her until she lays the eggs. After that he boots her butt out. like other panaque the males may decide to have more then one home in a single area and breed with multiple females.

I wouldn't do plants. They are just going to get knocked around and busted up. Sounds like you've got everything going fine. Next step would be to fast them them protien spike there diet and do a massive water change.

I would avise in getting a least a bit of greenery in the tank...all my loricariid breeders are housed with anubias, moss, and water sprite; adds a natural and asthetically pleasing element to the tank, and, per the ceratopsis, levels nutrients and shades the substrate, giving the plecs the reassurance needed to spawn.