breeding peppermints

Hi all!

I just wanted to start a post about breeding peppermint bristlenoses as i have a few questions.
First of all, i have 4 peppermints in a 3 foot tank (160L) and as this is my grow out tank for the cichlids i breed in a 4ft tank, i have 18 2-3cm cichlid fry in there also. Once they are big enough they will be moved/sold. There is also 2 large clown loaches in there as i had loads of snails go wild from some plants i recently bought. and there is one male albino bristlenose, and when he is big enough he will be moved also.

Tank info: pH = 7.4, kH = 5, temp = 27 - 28 degrees (is this too warm for breeding?) and 25% water changes weekly.

Basically, i'm in need for some advice on what to do. out of my 4 peppermints it looks like i have 2 definite males, one definite female, and one unknown (only 3 - 4cm). my tank is full of caves and driftwood and my big male (10cm) looks as though he has chosen a cave. I have seen the female close by but she is only around 7cm, is she big enough to breed? The 3 bigger peppermints are at least 16 months old and from different batches. From what i can see with a torch there's no eggs in the cave.
So, do i move all non-peppermint fish out? Because I don't have another tank for my cichlid fry i haven't done so already. Is a 3 foot a good size to have them breeding? In a few months i will be getting a 6 foot tank and i was going to make that my cichlid tank, turn my 4 foot into a peppermint breeding tank and then keep my 3 foot as a grow out tank. Does a 4 foot have more successful spawns? Will they still breed in the 3 foot when there's other fish around? If they do have a successful spawn in the 3 foot, will the dad peppermint be able to protect the babies from the loaches and cichlid fry? Also, i'm using a fluval internal filter which is great, should i add an air stone or pump for extra oxygen? I read that it helps.

Sorry about all the questions, but i just want to get off to a good start.

Any help would be much appreciated!

OK breeding bristlenose rule #1: No loaches. they compete for the same cave spaces and are specialist egg hunters.

apart from that the rules of breeding bristlenose are quite easy and all over this site. Check Curby's sticky

http://www.bristlenoseworld.com/the-breeding-cave-f8/breeding-the-bristlenose-pleco-t1320.htm

or my article

http://www.bristlenoseworld.com/the-breeding-cave-f8/doug-s-bristlenose-article-15-pages-of-owning-and-breeding-them-t1793.htm

these are good places to begin and even though they deal with the common bristlenose the rules are transfurable.

in terms of your specific questions. Yes, move all the other fish out as they will only serve to stress the breeders. dad will be able to protect them from the chiclids while they are in the cave but the loaches will get int there and the fights are often fatal to either the loach or the bristlenose as both are equiped with nasty weapons. Unlike the common bristlenose, peppermints are more sensitve to pH for breeding so it will need to be lowered. below 7 is ideal. and you will want to drop the temp. 26 degrees for standard then drop it again when triggering a spawn. Def add in an airstone or something as they love air and they like current so try not to block the outflow of the filter.

In terms of what tank to use, the 3 ft should be fine but you have two males and that will reduce the chances of a spawn as odd as it sounds. THey need to feel safe in a territory and with another male around they will be worrying more about their territory than breeding. best bet is 1 male and 2 females. but work with what you have for now, then see how you go.

Thanks heaps Doug! I will definitely try everything you've said
Cheers