compatible with Zebras?

Everything you ever wanted to say about "Zebra luvin", but didn't because you thought everyone would take the mickey! Plus general topics for discussion including everything from what you feed them to your personal experiences.

Post Reply
User avatar
ApacheDan
Obsessed!!
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Davie, Florida

compatible with Zebras?

Post by ApacheDan »

I'm wondering if small, baby one inch bristlenose plecos are compatible with equal size baby Zebras? I'm expecting a group of 3 zebras in a couple of weeks, and probably 5 more within 2 months. I will be setting a separate tank for the zebras, with sand, bogwood, etc.

Recently I ordered a group of 6 baby bristlenose plecos for my 180 gal discus tank. They came in about one inch. They either got lost in the tank or became a nice meal for my big discus. I was thinking of raising the bn to at least 2 inches in the Zebra tank, before dumping them in the big tank. What do you think? :(
crazie.eddie
Obsessed!!
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 6:15 am
Location: Illinois (US)

Post by crazie.eddie »

I'm sure the baby BN's got lost in your tank with the discus. I doubt the discus would have eaten them. Discus have small mouths.

The BN's and zebras should be fine together. They will share and eat the same types of food.

How big is the tank?
User avatar
ApacheDan
Obsessed!!
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Davie, Florida

Post by ApacheDan »

Not sure about tank size yet. I was thinking 10 gals, but that may be too small. I want to raise 6-8 zebras from 1" size for the next couple of years in there, before they start pairing off (hopefully).
crazie.eddie
Obsessed!!
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 6:15 am
Location: Illinois (US)

Post by crazie.eddie »

10 gallon is way small for that many. A 20 gallon long would be better.
User avatar
n00dl3
Obsessed!!
Posts: 175
Joined: Thu May 25, 2006 4:05 am
Location: Ohio US

Post by n00dl3 »

10 gal for 5 zebras and 6 bns is too small of a tank. 10 gal is prolly good for just the zebras. You can put them in the same tank but you have to watch because bns are more aggressive toward food then zebras. And you don't have to feed bns too much of high protein diet like your zebras. Too much of high protein in their diet will mess up their system. Even though they are omnivore, their diet should consist of 70% veggy to 30% high protein. While your zebras are just opposite. just my 2 cents...
User avatar
eklikewhoa
Obsessed!!
Posts: 362
Joined: Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:26 pm
Location: hou.tx

Post by eklikewhoa »

i would go for at least a 20gallon long for that many fish.
User avatar
ApacheDan
Obsessed!!
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Davie, Florida

Post by ApacheDan »

Thank you guys! A 20 gal it shall be. Trying to start right so I won't have to move them around later. Already got some Amazon plants & wood for them.
User avatar
TwoTankAmin
Moderator
Posts: 1252
Joined: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:16 am
Location: Westchester Co., NY

Post by TwoTankAmin »

I have spawned bn for years and zebras since last April. I have never mixed them and I would not do so. For me the reasoning is quite simple.
Bn give 50-75 fry in a spawn, zebras give a small fraction of that. I sell 1.5 inch bn for about $5 and sell 1 inch zebras for $125 and up. The math here does not support mixing them since any potential problems that might result simply do not justify doing so.
What makes the common person uncommon is common sense.
User avatar
John
Moderator
Posts: 1612
Joined: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:58 pm
Location: Hellevoetsluis / Holland
Contact:

Post by John »

ApacheDan wrote: Already got some Amazon plants & wood for them.
Hope you've got that for the bn's.
For your zebs you need slate, rocks and caves.
Greetings,
John
[img]http://i185.photobucket.com/albums/x276/hypancistrus-zebra/half.gif[/img]
marcus
Groupie
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:39 am
Location: lincoln england
Contact:

Post by marcus »

when my zebs were smaller i kept some small bn's with them. they were all fine for a while but whne the bn's got bigger they would steel all the food.
i would say that there ok to keep together but as soon as the bn's start out growing the zebs move them to a different tank
Dale90g
Groupie
Posts: 59
Joined: Sat Feb 11, 2006 3:40 pm
Location: Erie, PA - USA

Post by Dale90g »

I think it would be ok to house the baby zebs in a 10g, I've got 18 in one 10g now. Stack some rocks (no gravel) for several caves and crevices (did I spell that right?) and they seem to stick to one spot - I think they like each other at this size :) - the wee ones, that is. The older ones are starting to move around a bit more. I added 7 new fry and made small crevices for them and they still hang out where they bigger ones are. The small are under and inch and the older are pushing 2 inches, maybe larger.


I would have to agree to keeping fry separated to species. Just for food, because one might be less shy, thus leaving the shy hungry.


But as the saying goes, what works for me may not be what works for you... Kind of what is trash to someone is treasure to another, or poison or some other saying... I ramble,so er... Merry Christmas!!
Dale
User avatar
ApacheDan
Obsessed!!
Posts: 125
Joined: Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:52 pm
Location: Davie, Florida

Post by ApacheDan »

Small investment for a priceless Zebra. Just went to my LFS & got a 20g with 50/50 lights for the plants. Got Bogwood, stones, medium sand,
Amazon Swords plants...just going to use a cycled outside filter meant for 50gal to provide overfiltration & cycle the water faster. Won't worry too much because at 1", they got a lot of growing to do. Missing some slates. I even bought a couple of Leopard Plecos,, about 3" to test the water, but I will remove them before the Z's come. Lucky me, I'm close to Benny's Tropicals ( he sells at Aquabid) & got my pick of the crop. :lol:
crazie.eddie
Obsessed!!
Posts: 272
Joined: Mon May 29, 2006 6:15 am
Location: Illinois (US)

Post by crazie.eddie »

I hope it's a 20 gallon long. A 20 gallon (aka 20 gallon high) measures 24"L x 12"W x 16"H). A 20 gallon long measures 30"L x 12" W x 12"H. Plecos do not care about the extra 4" height in a regular 20 gallon, just surface area, which a 20 gallon long offers.
Post Reply