After waiting for 2 + years for my L046 Zebras

[Charlyc11]

I bought my first 4 L046's in the beginning of Jan 2023 and then 6 more from La Paz aquatics. They were about 4 - 6 months old and waited this long to get my first batch. I didn't even know if I had males and females. Today was a major maintenance day for the cory/zebra tank and to my surprize guess what I found hiding in plain sight. Found 12 in total and hopefully they will survive.



After this picture I found 3 more.



These are the sterbai fry so far.



The group

[Second Hand Pat]

Oh wow Chuck, that's a big deal...a super congrats
Pat

[Charlyc11]

Oh wow Chuck, that's a big deal...a super congrats
Pat

Thanks Pat
It's been a long wait but finally I got the answer that I was waiting for. I don't know which ones were the parents but now I have to keep a good eye on them. They are considered hard to breed.

[brewmaster15]

Chuck that is absolutely fantastic! Congratulations! So very cool!

al

[Charlyc11]

Chuck that is absolutely fantastic! Congratulations! So very cool!

al

Thanks Al, they say they mature between 2 and 3 years these were right on target.

[jwcarlson]

Very nice, Chuck! Congrats!

[danotaylor]

That’s awesome Chuck!

[Charlyc11]

Thanks you all I am hoping they keep going. Right now all the fry are in a 3 gallon cube and feeding them some instant brine shrimp eggs. I have some brine shrimp hatching that I started yesterday afternoon and will be ready soon. Floating in the same tank I have a coffee strainer with all the cory fry waiting to grow a little so they can join or maybe go in another 3 gallon cube to grow out.

[For100]

What an accomplishment! Congratulations. lets keep the factory open, I might ask you for some.

[pitdogg2]

Congratulations! I love it when a good non-plan comes together!!

[danotaylor]

Chuck how big are the pleco fry atm? Guess you gotta get set up to ship now

[AquaticNerd]

That's awesome Chuck! One of my big goals/dreams is to be able to breed some of the more difficult species and the L046s have been on my list since I first saw them as a young kiddo. Congrats on the success!

[Second Hand Pat]

I can't help thinking that domestic raised L046s will easily breed like with F1 wilds do.
Pat

[Charlyc11]

Chuck how big are the pleco fry atm? Guess you gotta get set up to ship now

Less than a inch. They are a good size and I don't know how long they have been hiding but my estimate is 3 - 4 weeks that's the last time I moved the caves to clean in between.

[chelltom]

Hey Chuck I picked up a trio of Zebs in September of 2023 all a little over an inch long back then . I am hoping I have to have the same luck as they are about the same age as yours