🧭 Ancistrus Breeding — Expert Playbook

🪧 Species scope

• Applies to domesticated Ancistrus cf. cirrhosus morphs (common, calico, longfin, super red, L144-type).
• Line integrity: Don’t cross morphs/unknown species; label lines, track parents.

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🧪 Water & system targets

• 📊 pH: 6.6–7.6 (stable beats “perfect”)
• 🧱 KH: 2–6 dKH • GH: 4–12 dGH • TDS: 120–250 ppm (domestics)
• 🌡️ Temp: 24–27 °C (75–81 °F); trigger with a 1–2 °C cool change
• 🌬️ O₂/flow: Strong surface agitation; laminar trickle across cave mouth
• 🧪 Nitrogen: NH₃/NO₂⁻ = 0; NO₃⁻ < 20 ppm (fry <15 ppm)

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🏗️ Tank & layout

• 📦 Pair/trio tank: 20–29 gal (75–110 L)
• 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Colony: 40–75 gal+ with multiple territories
• 🪵 Hardscape: Lots of wood (mopani/Malaysian) + slate/rock sight breaks
• 🌿 Plants (optional): Java fern, Anubias; leaf litter (catappa/alder cones) = tannins + biofilm
• 🧼 Filtration: Oversized sponge or HOB/canister + prefilter sponges; intake guards for fry

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🏚️ Caves (the centerpiece)

• 🔲 Shape/material: Ceramic/slate/bamboo; smooth interior
• 📏 Internal length: 1.5–2× the male’s SL
• 🚪 Entrance: Just wider than male’s head (discourages intruders, helps fanning)
• 📐 Height/width: Male body depth + 5–10 mm clearance
• 🎯 Placement: Entrance faces into gentle flow; low, stable, shaded
• 🏘️ Density: At least 2–3 caves per male; mix sizes (one perfect-fit “A-cave,” a tighter “B,” a larger “C”)

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👫 Sexing & ratios (fast recap)

• 👨 Male: bristles on snout, longer cheek/pectoral odontodes, broader head
• 👩 Female: fuller mid-body from above; little/no snout bristles
• ⚖️ Ratios: 1 ♂ : 1–3 ♀ (avoid 2 mature males in small tanks unless many caves/sight breaks)

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🍽️ Conditioning (2–3 weeks)

• 🌙 Feed at night (they’re crepuscular/nocturnal)
• 🥗 Grazers’ base: Repashy (Soilent Green/Morning Wood), spirulina tabs, blanched zucchini/squash/green beans, quality veg wafers; wood present
• 🍤 Protein bump (light): 2–3×/week small portions (insect meal, quality pellets/gel); avoid fatty meats
• 🧪 Cleanliness: Frequent small siphons; keep NO₃⁻ down to support gonad development

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🧨 Spawning triggers

• 💦 “Rain” change: 30–50% water change with slightly cooler, softer water (drop 1–2 °C, TDS −10–30%)
• 🌫️ Barometer: Spawns often follow storms/pressure drops—time changes accordingly
• 🌬️ Flow bump: Slightly more flow at the cave mouth for 24–48 h
• 🔦 Photoperiod: 8–10 h light; dim evenings

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🥚 Courtship → Hatch timeline (26 °C / 79 °F reference)

• 🏚️ Day −1–0: Male claims/cleans cave; female inspects, may be “trapped” briefly
• 🥚 Day 0: Spawn; bright orange clutch inside cave (50–200+ eggs)
• 👨 Day 0–5: Male fans/guards, removes bad eggs; keep flow O₂-rich across entrance
• 🐣 Day 4–6: Hatch to wrigglers; yolk-sac attached, male still guards
• 🐟 Day 7–10: Free-swimming; male often still shelters for a day or two
  (Cooler = slower; warmer = faster but watch oxygen.)

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🍼 Fry care (high survival protocol)

• 🧺 Leave with the male if he’s attentive (best outcomes).
• 🍼 If male abandons:
  • Transfer cave + eggs to a fry box or small tank with air stone at cave mouth (not blasting).
  • Optionals: methylene blue (light tint) or tannins (catappa/alder) to deter fungus.
  • Cull/remove white (fungused) eggs with pipette/tweezers.
• 🍽️ First foods (from free-swim):
  • Repashy (Soilent Green/Morning Wood) thin slab, always available
  • Blanched zucchini/squash coins; rotate fresh pieces daily
  • Spirulina tabs powdered for the first week; tiny amounts 2–4×/day
• 🪵 Wood is not optional: For Ancistrus, wood = grazing surface + gut motility
• 💧 Water changes: For dense fry, 10–20% daily with aged/same-temp water; target NO₃⁻ <15 ppm
• 🧽 Hygiene: Lift uneaten veg after 12–18 h; vacuum lightly; keep sponge filters rinsed in tank water
• 🧣 Intake guards: Fine sponge prefilters on all intakes

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📈 Growth & milestones (typical, good feeding)

• 📏 2–3 cm (¾–1¼″): ~4–6 weeks
• 📏 3–4 cm (1¼–1½″): ~8–10 weeks
• 👫 Sex signs: ~6–9 months (line-dependent)
• 🚚 Sale/rehoming: 1.5–2″; fast 12–24 h pre-ship; O₂ bag with veg wafer nub

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🧰 Troubleshooting (rapid fixes)

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🧬 Line management & ethics

• 🧾 Logbook: parents, dates, clutch size, hatch %, culls, growth, sales
• 🧬 Avoid mixing morphs (e.g., super red × calico) unless you’re intentionally creating a new line and labeling honestly
• ♻️ Cull humanely (deformities); don’t distribute weak stock
• 🧪 Quarantine all new breeders 4–6 weeks; deworm if needed (levamisole/fenbendazole in food)

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🛠️ Three proven setups

A) Pair tank (low drama)

• 20–29 gal, 1 ♂ + 1–2 ♀, 3 caves (S/M/L), wood, sponge + HOB, flow past A-cave

B) Trio (high throughput)

• 29–40 gal, 1 ♂ + 2–3 ♀, 5–6 caves, dense wood, leaf litter, strong O₂

C) Colony (ongoing production)

• 40–75 gal+, 2 ♂ (opposite ends) + 4–6 ♀, 8–12 caves, heavy sight breaks, big sponge walls

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🧪 “If the male bails” egg tumbler (quick DIY)

• 🧴 16–32 oz bottle, bottom removed; sponge ring on bottom; airline up the neck
• 💨 Adjust bubbles to gently roll eggs (no pinballing)
• 🌫️ Add a touch of tannin or MB; 26 °C; siphon off any white eggs daily

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🧠 Pro tips

• 🎯 The right cave solves 50% of problems. Err slightly tight at the entrance.
• 🛡️ Minimal disturbances once a male claims a cave—no rescapes or rearranging.
• 🌓 Feed after lights out; fry find food by smell/touch first.
• 🪵 Keep multiple wood types—different microfilms boost grazing.
• 📷 Top-down weekly photos to track female condition and male head width vs belly width ratios.

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TL;DR

Condition well, give the right cave in gentle flow, trigger with a cool, soft “rain” change, let the male do his job, and keep O₂ high, organics low. Feed wood-friendly, veg-heavy diets with light protein; manage water obsessively for fry. Track lines and don’t mix morphs.