I
first obtained two pair of Calico Bristlenose Plecos at the OCA auction. They
were about two and a half inches long. I set up two different tanks for them. In
each tank I had a sponge filter, gravel substrate, three caves plus a couple
artificial plants. I didn't use a heater and the room temperature held near 78
degrees.
Feeding was not hard as they consumed everything that hit the
water, Mostly sonic pleco pellets, bloodworms and different kinds of veggies-
peas, greens, cucumbers, and even apples. I would feed two times a day, early
morning and about 6pm, but smaller portions. They seemed to love this time
table.
The males took up house in the caves and the females roamed the
tanks at will, sometimes visiting the males. Soon the ladies started to show
signs of eggs, bellies began to get large and, they would visit the males more
often. The males would join in on the game, trying to entice the female into the
cave. Nature has a way of letting the two know when the time has come to spawn.
The female entered the cave, and the male rushed to block her
escape. Spawning took place in one to three days and the male would then let the
little lady out of the cave. Time for the male to care for the eggs, cleaning,
fanning, and keeping all others from entering the cave.
The eggs would hatch in 5 to 7 days. Room temperature plays a part
in how fast the eggs hatch. Once hatched the male would still care for the fry.
It would take another 5 to 7 days for the fry to absorb the yoke sac. Even after
this the male would try to keep the fry in one cave, But wanted food. They would
1 by 1 escape from the cave. Job well done dad!
The fry stayed in the tank with the parents, munching on bits of
food in the tank and scaling the tank for algae. They grow at a slow rate if you
ask me. Out of 45 fry from the 2 pair, I lost 2. As the pairs mature, I hope to
see larger spawns