cross breeding plecos?

blueblue48

does anyone think it might be possible to cross breed, liiike, a zebra and a BN pleco? im just wondering because it would be awesome to have a bristle/zebra pleco (and they would be worth alot).[/u]

herefishy

Maybe possible. I'm not a geneticist. But, you may end up with something not expected, a real ugly fish.

Lupin

I don't believe it is possible for most species to do that. Each pleco species has a different behavior, cave requirements and different breeding rituals so for a zebra pleco and Bristlenose Pleco to breed together is IMO next to impossible. Besides, we will not condone it. Zebras have been banned from exports already, let alone the high demand so why should we be expecting a cross to another species which can decimate the pure strains rather?

There are over a hundred of species of ancistrus. Look them up on Planetcatfish.com. It is possible for most to cross each other. The other example are those of the Pterygoplichthys genus.

blueblue48

ok lets make this a not serious thread, i wasnt planning on, nor did i know much about zebras i was just giving examples. Heres another question, how did we get so many species? did we (or did the fish?) cross breed to make different exotic kinds?

Lupin

I don't think they have been crossbred in the wild. To my knowledge, they really don't in the wild but in an enclosed ecosystem, they wil attempt it. Remember that Brazil has plenty of large river systems so this should explain why you see plenty of pleco species exist there.

blueblue48

Ok i still have some questions, sorry im just really interested in plecos recently. ive had a common for awhile and hes about 6 inches so i went to look up plecos and found theres like a million kinds! anyways can you breed an albino bristlenose and a reg. bristlenose? if so what will you get?? and whats a medusa head? just a bristlenose with weird qualities?

Lupin

The albino trait does not make the fish any different from other members of its own species so the albino can still breed with a regular one provided both are still the same species. It depends which gene is recessive or dominant. The chances of getting an albino really varies.