{"id":2170,"date":"2022-01-01T15:05:17","date_gmt":"2022-01-01T15:05:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/?p=2170"},"modified":"2023-11-05T14:33:54","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T14:33:54","slug":"pleco-eggs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/","title":{"rendered":"Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2170\" class=\"elementor elementor-2170\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bdb676a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bdb676a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;0ecf1d3&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_tablet&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_image_mobile&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_speed&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;%&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:50,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;jet_parallax_layout_type&quot;:&quot;scroll&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_direction&quot;:null,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_fx_direction&quot;:null,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_z_index&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_x_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y&quot;:50,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_y_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_tablet&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_bg_size_mobile&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_animation_prop&quot;:&quot;transform&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_on&quot;:[&quot;desktop&quot;,&quot;tablet&quot;]}]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-59d09dd\" data-id=\"59d09dd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c1f59b0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c1f59b0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Breeding pleco catfish is a very exciting part of keeping plecos. If you have been thinking of spawning your fish, you might be thinking about what their eggs look like, or how to care for them.<\/p><p>In this post, you&#8217;ll learn everything about pleco eggs and how to care for them.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cee2e73 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cee2e73\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-heading-title{padding:0;margin:0;line-height:1}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title[class*=elementor-size-]>a{color:inherit;font-size:inherit;line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-small{font-size:15px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-medium{font-size:19px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-large{font-size:29px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xl{font-size:39px}.elementor-widget-heading .elementor-heading-title.elementor-size-xxl{font-size:59px}<\/style><h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What do pleco eggs look like?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e0512c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e0512c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Sometimes, male pleco fish kick the eggs accidentally out of the cave, causing them to wander throughout the tank. But how can you recognize pleco eggs?<\/p><p><strong>Pleco eggs are rather big, 2-4mm small round balls colored orange. They are laid in clutches of between 10 and 300 eggs, depending on the species.<\/strong><\/p><p>In contrast to for example <a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/cory-catfish-eggs\/\">cory catfish eggs<\/a>, pleco eggs are stuck together in a clutch, in a cave. This is why you&#8217;ll never see them in your tank (or else, there&#8217;s something wrong!).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd2a3fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fd2a3fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.17.0 - 01-11-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"622\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pleco-eggs-e1641143306513.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-2320\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pleco-eggs-e1641143306513.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pleco-eggs-e1641143306513-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pleco-eggs-e1641143306513-768x467.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c4303c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c4303c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Bristlenose pleco eggs are more orange-colored, while zebra pleco or Hypancistrus sp. eggs are rather pale, more gray-yellow colored.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e5b62d0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e5b62d0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pleco spawning explained<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-261393a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"261393a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Plecos are unlike most other fish, in the sense that they are pretty unique in terms of how they spawn. It is quite easy for us to fish keepers though since the male does all the work.<\/p><p>If your plecos are ready for mating, the female will try and enter the cave of the male. This cave should be big enough for the male to have some room left, but small enough for the male to block the entrance. When the female enters the cave, the male will trap the female, and the mating procedure begins.<\/p><p>This process usually takes a few hours, but sometimes the male traps a female for days. This isn&#8217;t very common with bristlenose plecos though.\u00a0<\/p><p>When the eggs have been laid, the male will scare off the female and fertilize them. He will then guard and care for the eggs for 10-14 days until the fry is ready to leave the cave.<\/p><p>Males will care for the eggs by providing fresh oxygenated water by moving their fins. They also eat bad\/unfertilized eggs.<\/p><p>If the male is stressed or inexperienced, he might eat the eggs or accidentally kick them out. This is why it&#8217;s important to not shine with your flashlight too much, move the cave, re-scape the tank, etc. Read further to know more about this.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-9c6f2e8 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9c6f2e8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[],&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb2f1bb\" data-id=\"cb2f1bb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a31291e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a31291e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Read our full guide<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f76c9b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f76c9b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>An in-depth guide to breeding and spawning plecos, from A-Z<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-198f2c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"198f2c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/breeding-pleco-catfish\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Read the guide<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-715d7f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"715d7f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How many eggs do plecos lay?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4cb275b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4cb275b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>The average amount of eggs that plecos lay is 10 to 100 eggs per spawn. Hypancistrus species tend to lay less eggs, between 5 and 30, Ancistrus (bristlenose pleco) species tend to lay more eggs, between 50 and 200. How many eggs a fish lays depends on size, experience and conditioning before spawning.<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d70ab0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d70ab0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Size\/experience of the fish<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2f5370 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2f5370\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>It&#8217;s quite logical that smaller fish will lay fewer eggs. This also applies to the age of females. Younger females will lay fewer eggs than more mature specimens. Plecos will breed until their death, but very old fish will be less fertile.\u00a0<\/p><p>If your fish have spawned for the first time, the batches will be smaller than with experienced males or pairs.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4a07fbc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4a07fbc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conditioning<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecb693b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ecb693b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Conditioning is a big part of breeding any fish species. You prepare the fish to breed and stimulate the egg production of females.<\/p><p>This last one is very important. By feeding live foods and stimulating what happens in the wild, females will start producing more eggs.\u00a0With some species like Bristlenose plecos conditioning isn&#8217;t necessary. They will breed like rabbits. Other hard-to-breed species do need heavy conditioning to spawn.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83219be elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"83219be\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Pleco eggs hatching time<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-148be6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"148be6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After the eggs have been laid, the male will take on full care over the offspring. But how long will the male care for the eggs before you can expect to see fry?<\/p><p><strong>On average, pleco eggs take 3-10 days to hatch, depending on the species and water temperature. In higher temperatures, eggs will hatch faster. After the eggs have hatched, the fry will live off of their yolk sack for another 5-10 days.<\/strong><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/water-temperature-pleco\/\">Pleco water temperature \u2192<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc9b71f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cc9b71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Caring for the eggs<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff14791 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ff14791\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In most cases, the male will care for the eggs. In this regard, pleco fish are very easy. If the male however does not do a good job or if he kicked out the eggs, you will have to care for the eggs yourself.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f733ea5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f733ea5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to tell if the eggs are fertilized <\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2085ade elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2085ade\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>As stated above, males usually eat unfertilized eggs. If you however choose to pull the eggs or if the male kicked them out, you will need to take on the job of removing the bad eggs. If you don&#8217;t do this, other eggs might turn bad or develop mold too. But how do you know whether the eggs are fertilized or not?<\/p><p><strong>Fertilized pleco eggs will stay yellow\/orange, while unfertilized pleco eggs turn white and grow a mold-like layer over them. After a couple of days you might also begin to see a small embryo in a fertilized egg.<\/strong><\/p><p>There can be anywhere from 5-50% of the batch be unfertilized. This mostly depends on the experience of the male. Unexperienced males will have a lower success rate and tend to be more stressed. They might also eat the eggs or kick them out.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c5dd2f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6c5dd2f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">How to pull the eggs<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0836211 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0836211\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Many people choose to pull the eggs of the plecos to hatch them themselves. It might not be as hard as you think.<\/p><p>The first step is to take the pleco cave out of the tank. Try to scare off the male, back in the tank. He will most likely leave the cave. If the male doesn&#8217;t leave the cave, try gently pulling him out.\u00a0<\/p><p>It&#8217;s important to first set up a good box\/ egg tumbler where you can hatch the eggs in, before pulling the eggs. This way you minimize both your and the fish&#8217;s stress. You can read the next section to learn more about that.<\/p><p>After you have removed the male, you can gently turn over the cave so that the eggs can fall out. In some cases, the eggs won&#8217;t. You can then try removing them with a knife.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79bfd00 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79bfd00\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When to pull eggs<\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a8122cf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a8122cf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Pulling eggs is only a good idea when the male has been eating the eggs on a regular basis. If he stays &#8216;screwing up&#8217; after let&#8217;s say three spawns, you can start to think about caring for the eggs yourself.<\/p><p>If your male does a good job, there&#8217;s really no need to pull eggs. It will only give extra stress and you possibly lose more fry.<\/p><p>Many people choose to pull the fry instead of the eggs. 3-5 days after hatching you can try pulling out the fry using the same technique as pulling eggs. This proves to be very effective and especially when you plan to raise the fry in a separate tank, this is a good idea.\u00a0<\/p><p>The fry should be raised in a breeder box and only be fed after they consumed their yolk sack.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-becd46e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"becd46e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Setting up an egg tumbler or breeder box.<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7fcb2d6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7fcb2d6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The first thing you have to do is set up a dedicated environment for hatching your eggs. It&#8217;s very important to protect the eggs from predators and this way you can monitor them easily.<\/p><p>There are two common ways of hatching the eggs: in a breeder box or in an egg tumbler. Egg tumblers are most often used with cichlids but have proven to be great for hatching pleco eggs, too. 5<\/p><p>Another proven method is setting up a tub or breeder box. You simply add an airstone to provide some flow, and it&#8217;s done. Poke some holes if you&#8217;re making it yourself to ensure fresh water is getting to the eggs.<\/p><p>I&#8217;ve always used a Ziss Egg Tumbler for this Unfortunately, they come in quite expensive on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/ZISS-Tumbler-Shrimp-Aquarium-ZET-55\/dp\/B084H6SSM7?crid=11XYCERSC91V&amp;keywords=ziss+egg+tumbler&amp;qid=1655294260&amp;sprefix=ziss%2Caps%2C136&amp;sr=8-2&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=keepingcatfish-20&amp;linkId=a5b6e6f167e33ea9aa77d83bf2f67eba&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a> if you want to get them shipped to the US ($63). I came across a less expensive model that&#8217;s very similar and works great (you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/PETGROUP-Aquarium-Cichlids-Incubator-Mouth-Brooding\/dp\/B089MDJB8D?crid=32AMS700E3M0S&amp;keywords=egg+tumbler&amp;qid=1655293957&amp;sprefix=egg+tumbler%2Caps%2C155&amp;sr=8-5&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=keepingcatfish-20&amp;linkId=361a9b51ba235e8c7fd4545c78642e78&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">find it here on Amazon)<\/a>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b26d5a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b26d5a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Avoiding eggs molding<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e037e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6e037e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The biggest challenge in hatching pleco eggs is preventing the eggs turn bad and developing bacterial infections.<\/p><p>First and foremost, it&#8217;s important to remove all bad eggs (white eggs or eggs colored differently). If this isn&#8217;t done, these eggs will infect other eggs. You can do this by using tweezers.<\/p><p>This is why it&#8217;s recommended to either use an egg tumbler or a breeder box with an air stone. This way there&#8217;s always enough oxygen accessing the eggs preventing possible fungal growth.<\/p><p>Another method some people swear by is adding shrimp to the breeder box. Shrimp are known to eat dead material and will eat bad eggs while leaving the healthy fertilized eggs alone.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d12be7 elementor-blockquote--skin-border elementor-blockquote--button-color-official elementor-widget elementor-widget-blockquote\" data-id=\"4d12be7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"blockquote.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor-pro - v3.14.0 - 26-06-2023 *\/\n@charset \"UTF-8\";.entry-content blockquote.elementor-blockquote:not(.alignright):not(.alignleft),.entry-summary blockquote.elementor-blockquote{margin-right:0;margin-left:0}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote{margin:0;padding:0;outline:0;font-size:100%;vertical-align:baseline;background:transparent;quotes:none;border:0;font-style:normal;color:#3f444b}.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote .e-q-footer:after,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote .e-q-footer:before,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote:after,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote:before,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote cite:after,.elementor-widget-blockquote blockquote cite:before{content:none}.elementor-blockquote{transition:.3s}.elementor-blockquote__author,.elementor-blockquote__content{margin-bottom:0;font-style:normal}.elementor-blockquote__author{font-weight:700}.elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{margin-top:12px;display:flex;justify-content:space-between}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{display:flex;transition:.3s;color:#1da1f2;align-self:flex-end;line-height:1;position:relative;width:-moz-max-content;width:max-content}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover{color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button span{font-weight:600}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i,.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button span{vertical-align:middle}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i+span,.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg+span{margin-left:.5em}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg{fill:#1da1f2;height:1em;width:1em}.elementor-blockquote__tweet-label{white-space:pre-wrap}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{padding:.7em 1.2em;border-radius:100em;background-color:#1da1f2;color:#fff;font-size:15px}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover{background-color:#0967a0;color:#fff}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button svg{fill:#fff;height:1em;width:1em}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{padding:0;width:2em;height:2em}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i,.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-classic.elementor-blockquote--button-view-icon .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button i{position:absolute;left:50%;top:50%;transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{content:\"\";border:.5em solid transparent;border-right-color:#1da1f2;position:absolute;left:-.8em;top:50%;transform:translateY(-50%) scaleY(.65);transition:.3s}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{right:auto;left:-.8em;border-right-color:#1da1f2;border-left-color:transparent}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-right-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:before{left:auto;right:-.8em;border-right-color:transparent;border-left-color:#1da1f2}.elementor-blockquote--button-skin-bubble.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button:hover:before{border-left-color:#0967a0}.elementor-blockquote--skin-boxed .elementor-blockquote{background-color:#f9fafa;padding:30px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-border .elementor-blockquote{border-color:#f9fafa;border-left:7px #f9fafa;border-style:solid;padding-left:20px}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote:before{content:\"\u201c\";font-size:100px;color:#f9fafa;font-family:Times New Roman,Times,serif;font-weight:900;line-height:1;display:block;height:.6em}.elementor-blockquote--skin-quotation .elementor-blockquote__content{margin-top:15px}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:left}.elementor-blockquote--align-left .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote__content{text-align:right}.elementor-blockquote--align-right .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer{flex-direction:row-reverse}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote{text-align:center}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote .e-q-footer,.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__author{display:block}.elementor-blockquote--align-center .elementor-blockquote__tweet-button{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}<\/style>\t\t<blockquote class=\"elementor-blockquote\">\n\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-blockquote__content\">\n\t\t\t\tUnfertilised eggs turn white. It's often thought that this is mold developing. This is however most likely a bacterial infection. The bactia cause the with-slime moldy like strucutre.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8aeb072 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8aeb072\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe last tip I can give you is adding Catappa or Indian Almond leaves. These leaves are often used for<a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/cory-catfish-eggs\/\"> hatching Cory Catfish eggs<\/a>\u00a0but works great for hatching pleco eggs as well.\n\nIn fact, I&#8217;ve stopped using chemicals altogether and switched to IAL completely. You can check out the leaves I get <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Hikari-Tropical-Betta-Bio-Gold-Fish\/dp\/B00025Z74C?crid=2SZB6K2VALX07&amp;keywords=bett%2Bbio%2Bgold&amp;qid=1652544357&amp;sprefix=betta%2Bbio%2Bgold%2Caps%2C154&amp;sr=8-1&amp;th=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=keepingcatfish-20&amp;linkId=302dfd2a5d686c4c9a8c59ef5d316b99&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">here<\/a>.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-293fa65 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"293fa65\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CE608NAju9O\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CE608NAju9O\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">Dit bericht op Instagram bekijken<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CE608NAju9O\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\">Een bericht gedeeld door Aquatics (@simple_fins)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fe2940 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3fe2940\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Caring for the fry<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31efedd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31efedd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After the eggs have hatched, the fry doesn&#8217;t need much care. They will live off their yolk sack for 5-10 days. It is very important to leave the fry in the breeding box for this time because they&#8217;re still vulnerable.<\/p><p>Only after this time, you will need to start feeding the fry with vegetables or small pellets.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-63aae93 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"63aae93\" data-element_type=\"section\" 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class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-8ffebc6\" data-id=\"8ffebc6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d9b5cc6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d9b5cc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/pleco-catfish-fry-q1a9lq5jkwzhzs8j7ekb6yrk4u1a86hnfjey1lu0kc.webp\" title=\"pleco catfish fry\" alt=\"Photo by Max Wei on Flickr https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/sUdLtJ\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-dd609b1\" data-id=\"dd609b1\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b590a16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b590a16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h4 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/raising-pleco-fry\/\" target=\"_blank\">Read the full guide<\/a><\/h4>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d62262 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7d62262\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Read everything about hatching pleco eggs<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e96c304 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"e96c304\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/raising-pleco-fry\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Pleco Fry Guide<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6238645 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6238645\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Summary: pleco eggs<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41f0a82 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"41f0a82\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Pleco eggs are fairly easy to recognize. They are small, 2-4mm balls colored yellow-orange. The male will care for them in the caved the pair has spawned.<\/p><p>If the males have kicked out the eggs or you prefer to pull the eggs, set up a separate container or use an egg tumbler. The eggs will hatch after 3-10 days.<\/p><p>To prevent mold from developing, use an egg tumbler or add an air stone. You can also add shrimp or Indian Almond leaves.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Breeding pleco catfish is a very exciting part of keeping plecos. If you have been thinking of spawning your fish, you might be thinking about what their eggs look like, or how to care for them. In this post, you&#8217;ll learn everything about pleco eggs and how to care for them. What do pleco eggs &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2320,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"","site-content-layout":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More | Keeping Catfish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn everything about pleco eggs. From hatching them, to treating infections and the first stages of newly hatched fry.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More | Keeping Catfish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn everything about pleco eggs. From hatching them, to treating infections and the first stages of newly hatched fry.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Keeping Catfish\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-01-01T15:05:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-11-05T14:33:54+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/pleco-eggs-e1641143306513.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"622\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Thijs\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Thijs\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Thijs\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/#\/schema\/person\/2fadde910b38ba49e9d65d52776d583e\"},\"headline\":\"Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More\",\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-01T15:05:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-05T14:33:54+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\"},\"wordCount\":1708,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Breeding\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/pleco-eggs\/\",\"name\":\"Pleco Eggs 101: Hatching, Size, Care and More | Keeping Catfish\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/keepingcatfish.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2022-01-01T15:05:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-11-05T14:33:54+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn everything about pleco eggs. 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