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I am planning stokcing my 33 gallon with africans. I plan on getting Brichardi, to eventually get a breeding pair. But I also was wondering if there would be any other africans I could put in there, or any mid to upper water level fish? I really like the Leleupi.

I was thinking about going with some Debuwai catfish for upper level of the tank.

from all that i have read brichadi are a species only type of fish and breeding i the tank is rare...


\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

On the contrary, breeding in the tank is extremely common with brichardis, and they're one of the easiest-bred fish I've ever kept. However one breeding pair (which will soon become a colony with juvies helping raise fry) of them will easily take over a 33-gallon tank. I did manage to keep a Synodontis eupterus in a 20 gallon with mine, but its growth was stunted (not sure why, the other one I have was in a 10 and grew to about 6" - before both were moved to a larger tank- while this one stayed about 4" - probably because of stress and poor nutrition because of the brichardis). In short, I wouldn't subject another fish to their breeding aggression, especially in a tank smaller that 50 gallons because there really isn't room to escape. Brichardis are really fascinating fish to breed too, because the juveniles from previous spawns help raise those of subsequent spawns.

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Yeah thats why I wanted to breed Brachardi because I was interested in there breeding and parental care. I know how to sex them but was just wondering if theres any secrets on sexing them. Also any other advice on breeding them?

I have been keeping N.brichardi for the past 3 years & they are quite easy to keep & breed. I used to keep mine in a species tank & it was a 100L tank. I had a sandy substrate & lots of rocks.

Now i have them mixed with some N.leleupi & the aquascaping is basicly the same. Sand, lots of Rocks & hiding places & now i've added some Anubias plants. I've upgraded the tank to 350L, but i'm not seeing much fry & i think that the N.leleupi are taking over.

So, if you keep them in a species tank & have a few hiding places & rock work, then you'll soon see some fry.

I sex them by their finnage & the males have longer fins.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Thanks for the help. I plan to go with a nice sandy bottom and lots of slate rock. Also I plan to get some live plants in there, not sure what type yet, but something to brighten up the tank. I think I will buy 4 or 5 to begin with just to get a pair, then just take out the others after a pair is formed.

I always kept Anubias with them & never had any problems. Slate rocks are good as well & don't add alot of sand, just 1cm will do.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

Oh really I was under the impression that they would like a lot of sand from them to dig in. Is 1cm enough to anchor the live plants?

I only have 1cm of sand & they dig & move it themselves. They remove some of the sand from underneath the rocks & they lay eggs attached to the rocks.

About the plants, i don't have plants that need to be planted & if you are going to use these type of plants, then you need a thicker substrate.

I only have Anubias attached to the rocks.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com

What do you use to attach the plants to the rocks?

Nothing..... I just pile the rocks & then i'll put the Anubias rhizone in between them. Make sure not to harm the rhizone.

You can also tie them with some fishing line or sowing thread & by time, the roots will get attached with the rocks & you can cut the fishing line.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/corydoras/
Member of the Malta Aquarist Society - 1970.
http://www.maltaaquarist.com