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Very soon I am getting some zebs and i need to set up a tank for them. I really am considering breeding them.

I was thinking of having a tank with two females and two males, what do you think?

What size tank would you advise?

lighting?

decor?

Any advise would be greatly apprecated as i am looking to sort it out very soon. Thanks in advance!

I have four zebs (like your planning to get) and i have them in a 3ft tank. It seems that the best idea is to pack the tank full of bogwood, slate, and tough plants like anubius and java fern. People mostly recomemend bare bottoms to the tank with dim lighting. I use floating plants to block out alot of the light. Flow rates must be high, temp at about 29-30 degrees centigrade, and ideally overfilteration (not really such a thing but i guess you know what i mean). Oh yer, importantly loads of caves

Thank you for you sound advice.

How many caves would you recommend?

I was thinking of having black sand...?

Thanks again:)

PlecoDamo wrote:Thank you for you sound advice.

How many caves would you recommend?

I was thinking of having black sand...?

Thanks again:)

2 Caves 1 for each male. And black sand should be ok some people think it makes the Zebs feel more secure. Just be carful with the depth of the sand.

Ok, thanks for the advise.

2 Caves 1 for each male.

I would personally only use one cave. I had much better results using less caves than the total number of males, as it induces competition between the males which i think in turn stimulates the females.

Does anyone agree with this, i may need a quick response as i am looking at purchasing the caves very soon.

Thanks again

Hmmm.....you take the first persons experience and call it sound advice, yet when I post you require someone else to confirm my experience, very strange!

I would still purchase the number of caves you were intending to buy, simply because they are always handy things to have.

@Rich1988Oxford.

In your signature you state you have a Scobyancistrus. Fyi: the correct spelling is Scobinancistrus. Any idea of the L number?

I agree with PM. Less caves than Males.

p.s. Sorry PM but some time ago you asked about my tap water:

ph 6.5
kh 1
gh 1 / 60 micro seimens

Tanks kept at 31c no3 always less than 10mg/l, no no2 etc!

Plastic Mac wrote:

2 Caves 1 for each male.

I would personally only use one cave. I had much better results using less caves than the total number of males, as it induces competition between the males which i think in turn stimulates the females.

I agree with this.

Just keep an eye on them so that things don't get ugly if they're equal in size strenght and competitive nature

Which part, 2 cave per male or one cave for 2 males?

one cave two males

Brilliant, thanks a lot everyone.

I didnt mean to offend Plastic Mac, sorry for any bad feeling.

Good spot plastic mac, i do believe its an L014. The large spot veriety as opposed to the smaller speckeled spots. It has gold tinted fin tips and a gold underside too. When i saw him i instantly fell in love, he is a stunner. The only plec(s) that i would say rivals my scobiancistrus for looks is my L046's. I am very lucky to have such buitifull plecs . I also have a lovely royal panaque thats almost purple striped all over

sadly my signiture on this site is not enough space to name all of my fish i still have quite a few more