The Zebra Pleco Tank (L046)

[Si4geckos]

Put them in a breeding tank and let the others get on with their bickering?

I haven't got a breeding tank available as such and don't really want any more tanks on the go. I've ordered a tank divider egg crate thing last night, so hoping I can bodge something together for now.

Please all be proud of me that I went to see the 350L tank and decided it was too big, heavy and I walked away. I was sensible for the first time, er, ever?
Sticking with the 180L for now.

I did get a replacement LED light to replace the one that died on the 180L though, so now the shrimp colours are popping

[Martinspuddle]

Last time I used egg crate, I just used four Eheim suckers each side.

Two at the top of the glass and two at the bottom, which stops it moving and can be easily taken out or moved.

[FishBubs]

On the note of getting older, inspired by this forum, I installed fish CCTV with night vision. I always wondered what went on at night as there was sometime a crater outside one of the caves so I wondered if breeding attempts were happening. Cue addictive watching! As soon as the lights go out it all kicks off. Males fighting, females trying to get in caves, chasing, arguing. It's surprisingly aggressive.

Firstly, its great your zebbies are doing so well. Secondly, a huge pat on the back for resisting that bigger tank, that is a very hard thing to do.

Thirdly, a camera on the tank is really a fab thing to have. The insight you get and learn is invaluable. On that note @Si4geckos , jacaranda pods seem to be an absolute feast for zebras. I have been paying close attention to their feeding habits at night and have noted this is something they will graze on every night so seems to be a favourite. Debbie has mastered how to rasp one side to get what she wants then flips it over to get the other side done. just thought i would share this in case you would be interested .
https://blackwateruk.com/shop/ols/produ ... pack-of-10



Now i have to mention my zebras are columbian zebra plecos L129 (which are actually from venezuela ).

And if you leave any shrimp lollies in, they will be all over it too

[fr499y]

I've got a few of these pods that I was planning to add in mine. It's nice to hear they last a while!

[FishBubs]

They really last a long time. I liked the look of them so guessed they would be great as litter but they double up as a grazing item too

[Si4geckos]

On the note of getting older, inspired by this forum, I installed fish CCTV with night vision. I always wondered what went on at night as there was sometime a crater outside one of the caves so I wondered if breeding attempts were happening. Cue addictive watching! As soon as the lights go out it all kicks off. Males fighting, females trying to get in caves, chasing, arguing. It's surprisingly aggressive.

Firstly, its great your zebbies are doing so well. Secondly, a huge pat on the back for resisting that bigger tank, that is a very hard thing to do.

Thirdly, a camera on the tank is really a fab thing to have. The insight you get and learn is invaluable. On that note @Si4geckos , jacaranda pods seem to be an absolute feast for zebras. I have been paying close attention to their feeding habits at night and have noted this is something they will graze on every night so seems to be a favourite. Debbie has mastered how to rasp one side to get what she wants then flips it over to get the other side done. just thought i would share this in case you would be interested .
https://blackwateruk.com/shop/ols/produ ... pack-of-10



Now i have to mention my zebras are columbian zebra plecos L129 (which are actually from venezuela ).

And if you leave any shrimp lollies in, they will be all over it too

Thanks for the pat on the back. Please not how my back doesn't hurt from trying to get a 350L tank in the house haha.

I'll be honest, I've never heard of the pods before. What's the main benefits? Just a different food option?

I've never seen the 46's go at algea wafers or anything non-protein based. Maybe once in the big community tank.

I've just been having a google around and I found an article saying you shouldn't shine an infrared light/ camera into the cave as the fish can see IR light and it'll stress them out too much. Wasn't aware of this and I'm now wondering if the camera is causing issues. Might have to reposition it for a few days.

I've got the egg crate thing on order from amazon, so that should come today. I think I might separate/ partition off 'fish dad' as once again his black stripes have been nearly completely eroded away (I'm assuming due to aggression). Just give him a few days to chill/ recover on one side of the tank and see if the others do anything in the mean time.

Thanks for all the input. I'll drop a few screen shots of the night time activity below.

[Si4geckos]

[Si4geckos]

[Si4geckos]

The passion palace is set. It'll be interesting to see what the rest of them get up to overnight now the potential alpha is out the way. I'm not sure if I cut the divider slightly too short and they may escape. Time will tell.

[FishBubs]

Hi @Si4geckos . I didnt know that about infra red as i never managed to find anything on the subject at the time i looked. However, i dont have mine shining into a cave either. Both cameras face the sides of any caves i have. One camera was to monitor heater and flow on the surface so i can be sure everything is working ok if i am away but i also get a view of the fish too and full front of tank. And i have one on the short side too so i can be nosy and have pretty much an all round view But i will research that point to be sure.


As for the pods, they are quite hard, wood like so they have a nice surface for the zebs to rasp on plus they are good surfaces for biofilm. My zebs wont go near any algae wafers either but they love these pods. So i am not entirely sure what benefit they brings them other than satisfaction of rasping. They dont make a mess either. But courgette skin trumps all even the pods

I like the cave fish dad is in with the wee ‘porch area’