Royal Pleco Compatibility/Interbreeding?

[matubula]

I understand the mindset of wanting to buy them small, grow them on, and wanting to breed them in the future; because that is exactly what I was like 8 years ago.

But being here now, 8 years later: 3 Panaque nigrolineatus (25-40cm), 7 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'xingu' (18-27cm), 1 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'tocantins' (18cm), 2 Panaque armbrusteri (12-15cm).

My advice - Keep a few now just for the fun of it, try another shorter term project, and when you're really able to, do it properly. Get several huge tanks with all the trimmings, go to your best LFS and order 10 large adults, pick out a good ratio of male/female and see what happens from there.

 

[giveneausername]

I understand the mindset of wanting to buy them small, grow them on, and wanting to breed them in the future; because that is exactly what I was like 8 years ago.

But being here now, 8 years later: 3 Panaque nigrolineatus (25-40cm), 7 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'xingu' (18-27cm), 1 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'tocantins' (18cm), 2 Panaque armbrusteri (12-15cm).

My advice - Keep a few now just for the fun of it, try another shorter term project, and when you're really able to, do it properly. Get several huge tanks with all the trimmings, go to your best LFS and order 10 large adults, pick out a good ratio of male/female and see what happens from there.

I did keep the royal I have for the sole reason of having one. Truth be told, the reason I am doing this whole thing is because I am going off to college in the fall, and a family member is going to be watching my tanks while I am at school. I currently have a high tech 75G tank, and a high tech 10G shrimp and CPD tank, as well as a 30G tank I have used to breed Bristlenose Plecos for over a year now. I won't be able to take pretty much anything with me, and I am very attached to to royal i have now. I aim to train the family member on how to do regular water changes, feed proper amounts, etc. I will be coming home often enough that I can clean the filters, but not give the fish the regular care they need. I have filtered the tank very well, in hopes that that will combat the less frequent TLC for the filters.

The way I see the royals as of now, I do want to keep them for fun, but in the long run, I would like to be able to breed them. Whether that comes from this batch or not really isn't all that important to me right now.

The order won't be even able to be placed for another 2-3 weeks, so I am still open to adapt my plan, but I still feel that I am leaning towards the idea.

By the way, I wanted you to know that I have a great deal of respect for you in general. I've been watching your posts and work for a short while, and I'm a fan. I am willing to discuss this further, and I would love to gain more of your insight if you're willing.

Thank you very much!


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[Jer]

I understand the mindset of wanting to buy them small, grow them on, and wanting to breed them in the future; because that is exactly what I was like 8 years ago.

But being here now, 8 years later: 3 Panaque nigrolineatus (25-40cm), 7 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'xingu' (18-27cm), 1 Panaque cf. armbrusteri 'tocantins' (18cm), 2 Panaque armbrusteri (12-15cm).

My advice - Keep a few now just for the fun of it, try another shorter term project, and when you're really able to, do it properly. Get several huge tanks with all the trimmings, go to your best LFS and order 10 large adults, pick out a good ratio of male/female and see what happens from there.

I think this is good advice. These fellas are probably my favorite all-time pleco. I wasn't aware of the super exotic stuff in the 80's when I was a kid but to me the Royal was the end all be all for a young pleco lover. After years (decades?) of frustration of getting unhealthy specimens that quickly died I finally got a couple larger (3" or so but full unlike the little scrawny 1.5" I had been being sent w/shipments for years) ones that made it and I've had them over 5 years now and they've barely even grown. If my goal was to breed them I would likely be waiting another decade assuming they continued growing at this pace and stayed healthy and alive. If you want to breed them I would bite the bullet and source adults to strike while the iron is hot.

 

[Jer]

I did keep the royal I have for the sole reason of having one. Truth be told, the reason I am doing this whole thing is because I am going off to college in the fall, and a family member is going to be watching my tanks while I am at school. I currently have a high tech 75G tank, and a high tech 10G shrimp and CPD tank, as well as a 30G tank I have used to breed Bristlenose Plecos for over a year now. I won't be able to take pretty much anything with me, and I am very attached to to royal i have now. I aim to train the family member on how to do regular water changes, feed proper amounts, etc. I will be coming home often enough that I can clean the filters, but not give the fish the regular care they need. I have filtered the tank very well, in hopes that that will combat the less frequent TLC for the filters.

The way I see the royals as of now, I do want to keep them for fun, but in the long run, I would like to be able to breed them. Whether that comes from this batch or not really isn't all that important to me right now.

The order won't be even able to be placed for another 2-3 weeks, so I am still open to adapt my plan, but I still feel that I am leaning towards the idea.

By the way, I wanted you to know that I have a great deal of respect for you in general. I've been watching your posts and work for a short while, and I'm a fan. I am willing to discuss this further, and I would love to gain more of your insight if you're willing.

Thank you very much!


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Honestly, if you know you're going to go away for school I would NOT order any more fish or buy anymore fish. I've heard this story far too many times and it rarely ends well. I would seriously consider selling your fish to people who will be able to care for them full time and are fish people. Far too often family members or fish sitters don't have the connection required to properly care for the fish. I know none of this is what you want to hear.... that's why I'm saying it.

 

[giveneausername]

Honestly, if you know you're going to go away for school I would NOT order any more fish or buy anymore fish. I've heard this story far too many times and it rarely ends well. I would seriously consider selling your fish to people who will be able to care for them full time and are fish people. Far too often family members or fish sitters don't have the connection required to properly care for the fish. I know none of this is what you want to hear.... that's why I'm saying it.

Yeah... I know I'm going to be selling off about 90% of what I've got, if not more. I really just wanted to keep some tank running to some degree. I don't really have anyone to watch the royal while I'm away, that would be able to definitely keep it alive, or definitely give it back.


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[Jer]

Yeah... I know I'm going to be selling off about 90% of what I've got, if not more. I really just wanted to keep some tank running to some degree. I don't really have anyone to watch the royal while I'm away, that would be able to definitely keep it alive, or definitely give it back.

I would really suggest just breaking the tank(s) down entirely and focusing on your studies. Cycling a tank down the road is nothing compared to what it takes to keep them going for years when you're not around. It most likely won't end will and not only will cost you fish but could cost you relationships or create bad blood between you and whoever you made take care of it. Once you can devote your attention to caring for the aquarium you can go hog wild and will be so glad you did it that way versus what you're contemplating doing. I've seen this end badly far too many times to not say something about your plan.

 

[HarleyK]

That's what I did when I went to college: take down my tanks.

I thought it was not respectful to my family to have to keep my hobby running while I wasn't there for a couple of years.

Yes, you'll come home during breaks, but trust me, you'll be busy with other things. As you should be.

Just my $0.02





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[matubula]

I did keep the royal I have for the sole reason of having one. Truth be told, the reason I am doing this whole thing is because I am going off to college in the fall, and a family member is going to be watching my tanks while I am at school. I currently have a high tech 75G tank, and a high tech 10G shrimp and CPD tank, as well as a 30G tank I have used to breed Bristlenose Plecos for over a year now. I won't be able to take pretty much anything with me, and I am very attached to to royal i have now. I aim to train the family member on how to do regular water changes, feed proper amounts, etc. I will be coming home often enough that I can clean the filters, but not give the fish the regular care they need. I have filtered the tank very well, in hopes that that will combat the less frequent TLC for the filters.

The way I see the royals as of now, I do want to keep them for fun, but in the long run, I would like to be able to breed them. Whether that comes from this batch or not really isn't all that important to me right now.

The order won't be even able to be placed for another 2-3 weeks, so I am still open to adapt my plan, but I still feel that I am leaning towards the idea.

By the way, I wanted you to know that I have a great deal of respect for you in general. I've been watching your posts and work for a short while, and I'm a fan. I am willing to discuss this further, and I would love to gain more of your insight if you're willing.

Thank you very much! MonsterAquariaNetwork app

[Off Topic]

Your situation is almost exactly as mine was. I left for university leaving behind all the fish that I mentioned, and just prior to leaving, I bought one that was 40cm and his own tank! Looking back, it was very selfish of me to impose that responsibility on my poor mum. It's far from an ideal situation for anyone. I have a lot of respect for her doing it, and continuing to do so having become the de-facto fishkeeper.

Thank you for your kind words, it's very nice to hear. I used to pretend that I knew a lot, now I know a little but also know there's a heck of a lot more I don't. PM me if you want to talk more, I think I recognise your username on reddit, so message me there if you want (I've got the same name there as well).

 

[giveneausername]

[Off Topic]

Your situation is almost exactly as mine was. I left for university leaving behind all the fish that I mentioned, and just prior to leaving, I bought one that was 40cm and his own tank! Looking back, it was very selfish of me to impose that responsibility on my poor mum. It's far from an ideal situation for anyone. I have a lot of respect for her doing it, and continuing to do so having become the de-facto fishkeeper.

Thank you for your kind words, it's very nice to hear. I used to pretend that I knew a lot, now I know a little but also know there's a heck of a lot more I don't. PM me if you want to talk more, I think I recognise your username on reddit, so message me there if you want (I've got the same name there as well).

Much appreciated. PM sent.

Edit: Misread and sent a PM through MFK. I will transfer it over when I get to a computer.


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[Linus_Cello]

Agree with what everyone above said. One more point: Maybe after you have graduated from school and want to get back in to aquariums and breeding royal plecos, maybe by then there will be captive bred royals available to buy- generally captive bred fish are easier to breed than wild fish.