Leopard Frog Pleco (Peckoltia compta) Breeding Guide

How to breed the Leopard Frog Pleco (Peckoltia compta L134): a cave-spawner in which the male guards a clutch of 10-50 large eggs that hatch in about a week.

Overview

Peckoltia compta (L134) has been bred successfully in the aquarium. It is a cave-spawning loricariid in which the male takes on brood care, and it is regarded as one of the more attainable L-number plecos for intermediate aquarists.

Sexing

Adult dominant males develop sharp odontodes (tooth-like bristles) along about three-quarters of the length of their tails; these are absent in females and in non-dominant males. The cloaca also differs, being V-shaped in males and U-shaped in females.

Conditioning

Condition adults of both sexes well before pairing. Reported breeding water is soft, around pH 6.0-7.2 and a temperature of roughly 25-28 °C (77-82 °F).

Breeding Setup

Provide caves, crevices and wood: eggs are deposited in burrows or crevices, often in a cave or under a piece of wood. A separate breeding tank is reported to increase fry survival rates.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

Spawning colours intensify and the act can be somewhat rough, occasionally resulting in minor injuries. The female deposits a clutch in the chosen cave or crevice; estimates range from 10 to 50 eggs, which are relatively large at about 3.5 mm in diameter and dark yellow. After deposition the male guards the eggs.

Egg & Fry Care

The eggs hatch after about seven days. Larvae subsist on their yolk sacs for roughly a week before becoming free-swimming; the male guards until the fry are free-swimming and provides no further supervision afterward. Initial feeding consists of very small foods such as newly hatched Artemia (brine shrimp) nauplii.

Common Challenges

Rough spawning can cause minor injuries, so monitor the pair and maintain good water quality. Rearing fry in a dedicated tank, rather than the community, improves their survival rate.