My Goldies!!!

[vaine111]

My local fish store sells these slate caves that according to them are specifically for pleco breeding. They are on the small scale though. Basically like a coffin but with out one of the sides. They have about 15 lower xingu plecos breeding in a tank in the store and they sell the babies for $30 a pop.
What about those fake rock looking things with an opening that they sell for teraniums(spell check that) and they also say aquarium safe too?

But on the substrate thing I was thinking(sorry I was typing this and then checked your post)...
I am ignorant sometimes. I just read on planet catfish what their substrate should be like. I was thinking maybe I should take about 3/4 of my gravel out and add about 30-40 pounds of sand. I'm thinking a white or tan would look good and add some larger rounded black river rocks. There are a few landscaping places here that have some mexican black pebbles that would look real nice... Geeez I am switching my substrate like monthly it seems but that don't matter cause my dats are darkening up too much for my liking with the current substrate and I don't like that.

 

[vaine111]

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/dcor/rock-dens.htm this is the company that makes them. I was thinking of getting one for my fish awhile back but decided not to.

 

[zerojquan85]

http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/dcor/rock-dens.htm this is the company that makes them. I was thinking of getting one for my fish awhile back but decided not to.

I read on planetcatfish that the best type of cave is actually not the ones made in half circle. but in reality... Pottery jugs...

YES.. i was shocked.. but this is what a few people who breed Scarlet pleco and Leopard pleco with success...

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26556&sid=b22d9d2224e62178897cca9c61b65908

http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/shanesworld.php?article_id=384

As for substrate.. one of them were breed with a bare bottom tank.. the other was sand.. I honeslty think it does not matter what substrate exist.. the only thing that matters is a peaceful tank with lots of hiding places and regular food and water changes...

 

[vaine111]

Ahhh...
So II need something for the male to trap the female in...
Remember now the only thing that I have bred is convicts and live bearers lol. So forgive me if I seem like a newbie. But with that said I think I will try the coffin looking things that I mentioned. Me using the term coffin can be misleading, it's basically like a triangle and I can definetly see it's effectiveness when a male is trying to trap a female.

 

[Fishes33]

You will need a foot long custom made open top slate cave

 

[vaine111]

You will need a foot long custom made open top slate cave

Yeah I took pictures of some at the store of the ones I was mentioning earlier. But these are on the mini size. I've seen bigger ones there before but not sure if they still have any.
And of my new pick up. I know it's a little early too but is showing signs of a male. I can see bristles already and has noticeable bristles on the pectoral fin. Either part of the lower pectoral fin is either bit or deformed. I'm thinking more along the lines deformed. But I think he looks sweet.

 

[zerojquan85]

Yeah I took pictures of some at the store of the ones I was mentioning earlier. But these are on the mini size. I've seen bigger ones there before but not sure if they still have any.
And of my new pick up. I know it's a little early too but is showing signs of a male. I can see bristles already and has noticeable bristles on the pectoral fin. Either part of the lower pectoral fin is either bit or deformed. I'm thinking more along the lines deformed. But I think he looks sweet.

nice.. very very nice.. how big is he? and what camera do u use?

 

[vaine111]

nice.. very very nice.. how big is he? and what camera do u use?

Thanks!
I'd say five and a half inches.
Right now I only have my 2mp camera phone. But my girl ordered me an underwater camera for my birthday. It's 10mp and it was on sale so I think it should be pretty decent. These pics sure do not do these plecos justice. Their color is so much brighter in person.