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Zebra Pleco; *aqua-inhabitant
Topic Started: Feb 16 2006, 02:56 PM (464 Views)
Morrigan
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Zebra Plecostomus


Quick Stats

Scientific Name Hypancistrus Zebra

Distribution Brazil – Rio Xingu

Size 3 to 4"

Common Names Zebra Plecostomus, Imperial Plecostomus, L046, L098, L173

pH 6.5 to 7

General Characteristics

One of the most beautiful and often one of the hardest of the exotic Plecostomus species to find in a pet shop, it is easy to see where the Zebra Pleco gets its common name. With its dramatic pattern of black stripes on a white background, it is one of the most popular of the smaller Pleco's available. Often touted as being difficult to keep, these fish are not as troublesome as they are sometimes made out to be. Like any fish, they are sensitive to poor water conditions, and do prefer tanks with conditions similar to their natural environment, but that does not mean that they cannot adapt. They are certainly not as forgiving as their larger cousins, but anyone who maintains their tanks in the proper fashion should have no trouble keeping this fish.

Somewhat shy and retiring by nature, the Zebra Pleco is not the idea fish for a tank full of large to medium boisterous cichlids. However, they are a nice addition to tanks containing smaller, more peaceful cichlids, such as those that inhabit similar areas of the Rio Xingu. Being nocturnal by nature, it's likely that you won't see much of your Zebra's until the lights go down.

Aquarium Set-up

Tanks for Zebra Pleco's need to be set up quite differently from cichlid tanks. Their natural habitat is the fast flowing Rio Xingu in Brazil, and generally consists of small piles of rocks with sandy substrate in between. A tank for a Zebra Pleco should be set up similar to this. Rocks should be piled to allow for small caves in between them. Substrate should be sandy rather than gravel, these fish prefer as close to their natural environment as possible. Plants are a matter of owner preference, they are not required. If used, they should be long-leafed, tall plants such as Vallisneria or Amazon Swords, to allow as such swimming room at the bottom of the tank as possible.

Zebra's do not mind living in colonies and it is possible to keep fairly large groups of them as long as each fish is provided with a cave to retreat to. Small groups can be kept in tanks as small as 25 gallons, but as you gather a larger group, more space is needed to provide each fish with its own cave.

Filtration is extremely important in a Zebra Pleco tank, with bad water conditions and poor maintenance being the number one killer of these fish in aquariums. Regular water changes on a weekly or even biweekly basis are recommended. Another important factor with these fish is water oxygenation. Zebra Pleco's come from fast flowing water and require higher levels of oxygen in the water than most cichlids. It is advisable to use filters with a high rate of return to keep the surface of the water turning over. This can be aided by the addition of powerheads or bubblewands.

Feeding

Unlike many Plecostomus species, Zebra Pleco's tend more toward the carnivorous. They prefer high protein, meaty foods, with only a small amount of vegetable matter. Their mouths contain small teeth, rather than the rasping disc that is common for many Pleco species. This means that Zebra's cannot be used as an algae control in your tank. Foods such as bloodworms, brine shrimp and good quality pellets designed from predatory catfish are all accepted, and it may be possible to use the beefheart recipe for these fish, although I do not know of anyone who has tried that. Some vegetables will also be eaten such as lettuce, zucchini and spinach, but this does not need to account for a large portion of your fish's diet. Remember to keep the portions small, as Zebra's only have small mouths.

Compatibility

Given their shy nature, these fish are not suitable for your average cichlid tank. This is compounded by their small size. Despite their armor, these fish would be severely harassed by larger cichlids looking for a snack. It is better to keep them in a tank with the fish from their natural habitat. These consist of many species of Tetra's, Barb's, Danio's, Hatchetfish and, for the cichlid lover, Apistogramma's. It is not recommended to add any other bottom dwelling fish to a Zebra tank, as they do not appreciate competition for food. Any fish chosen for a Zebra tank should be upper level swimmers.

Breeding

Breeding these fish in an aquarium is difficult, but not impossible. It is more common in tanks containing several fish and several possible spawning sites. Raising the temperature of your tank to between 82 and 86 degrees and increasing the water current are the first steps to take in preparing these fish to spawn. The next step is to provide suitable spawning caves. These should be just long enough to accommodate the length of your fish, wide enough for two to fit side by side and should have a small amount of water current running through it to provide aeration for the eggs. Once the eggs are laid and fertilized, the male will chase the female out of the cave and take over guarding the eggs. He will also continue to protect the fry after they hatch in approximately 6 days until they are able to feed for themselves. You will not need to feed the fry for around two weeks, as they will live off their egg sacs until then. Fry should be fed baby brine shrimp or other high protein fry food. Regular water changes are essential once you have fry in the tank, as this is when they are most sensitive to bad water conditions. Zebra Pleco fry are relatively slow growing, but should reach around 1" in approximately 3 months.


It has recently been brought to my attention that due to the construction of several hydroelectric dams on the Rio Xingu, the natural habitat of these fish will soon be lost. This is likely to also mean the loss of these fish in the wild. This makes it all the more important for hobbyists and breeders to maintain this beautiful species of Plecostomus to ensure that it is not lost for good. The dedication that breeding Zebra Pleco's require will be well rewarded by the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to preserve a fish that will soon no longer grace the rivers of its natural environment.
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