First record of captive breeding of the ornamental fish L333, King Tiger Pleco, Hypancistrus sp. (Siluriformes – Loricariidae) of the Amazon River basin

Abstract

In this study we describe for the first time the reproductive management of the ornamental fish L333, king tiger pleco, Hypancistrus sp., an endemic species from the Xingu River in the Amazon basin. A total of 56 fish were separated in 120 L aquariums (60 × 50 × 40 cm) with four breeding groups: Group 1 (1 male: 1 female); Group 2 (1 male: 2 females); Group 3 (1 male: 3 females) and Group 4 (1 male: 4 females). The study lasted for 180 days and a total of 145 spawns were observed, with every group spawning in the first month of the experiment. The highest mean of spawns per month was observed in Group 1 (2.04 ± 0.16), followed by Groups 4 (1.63 ± 0.50) and 2 (1.38 ± 0.34), while Group 1 had the lowest mean (1.00 ± 0.14). The highest eclosion rates were registered in Groups 1 (98.90 ± 0.92%) and 2 (93.50 ± 12.35%), followed by Groups 3 and 4, with 84.20 ± 5.30% and 82.60 ± 13.06% respectively. This study presented an alternative for breeding Hypancistrus sp., which can support the sustainable development of the pisciculture of loricariids and contribute to the conservation and preservation of species in natural environments.