View Full Version : Pleco sucking on FRT shell ~ Is this bad?
Gr8KarmaSF
06-21-2006, 10:17 PM
Like the subject says, I just noticed my common pleco sucking on my new FRT's shell.
Is this harmfull to my new baby?!?!?!? :confused:
RsaidF
06-21-2006, 10:31 PM
my pleco has been doing this for the past 3 months and my frt is fine. previously i had albino algae eaters that would do the same no problems either till the frt ate them :)
Oddball
06-21-2006, 10:36 PM
It can become a problem quickly if your water isn't perfect for the FRT. FRTs do best in brackish heavily alkaline conditions. They also have a slime layer as is evidenced by their habit of sloughing after transport. Breaking this layer can leave them vulnerable to infection. At any rate, why would you want to risk a rare and expensive FRT with a $2 pleco?
rayman45
06-21-2006, 11:04 PM
kill pleco
bermuda
06-21-2006, 11:18 PM
plecos that don't get enough food and get big enough eat meat. whether or not this is "true" in an encyclopedia article, my neighbor had to trade her pleco in for a smaller model because it started eating her fish. O.o
Gr8KarmaSF
06-22-2006, 12:09 AM
pleco now go bye bye!
thanks guyz...
cichlid savage
06-22-2006, 1:15 AM
What kind of pleco and how much $$?:naughty:
DeLgAdO
06-22-2006, 2:55 AM
i wouldnt worry if it was a common pleco
if it was a panque (did i spell that right?) however.............
DeLgAdO
06-22-2006, 2:56 AM
pleco now go bye bye!
thanks guyz...
you could have just kept the pleco well fed too........
nah, not if it already had a taste for it. you def. did the right thing there mate
Gr8KarmaSF
06-23-2006, 6:10 PM
gotta play it on the safe side with squirttle....
ive read tons of articles that said to not keep frts with plecos!reason being if the frts has a wound or fungus it can become worse with the pleco sucking on it!i have 2 frts only in the tank.plecos NO GOOD buddy!
redtailfool
06-24-2006, 12:34 PM
It can become a problem quickly if your water isn't perfect for the FRT. FRTs do best in brackish heavily alkaline conditions. They also have a slime layer as is evidenced by their habit of sloughing after transport. Breaking this layer can leave them vulnerable to infection. At any rate, why would you want to risk a rare and expensive FRT with a $2 pleco?
agreed .. that could cause a fungal infection on the shell . I would separate the pleco asap.
Besides, frts produce a lot of waste and so does a pleco. Its just not a good mix.
if its a common pleco, i wouldnt worry about it. I have 8 frt's with a foot long common pleco for over a year with no problem.
redtailfool
06-27-2006, 9:17 AM
if its a common pleco, i wouldnt worry about it. I have 8 frt's with a foot long common pleco for over a year with no problem.
But why would you leave a pleco rasping at an frt's shell ?
Peanut_Power
06-27-2006, 9:58 AM
if its a common pleco, i wouldnt worry about it. I have 8 frt's with a foot long common pleco for over a year with no problem.
Nice!! In a way it almost seems benificial to the FRT....like if it was a bristlenose cuz it would eat any algae. I am nervous to risk it though.
Quick question though, at what size do FRT start eating fish? Do they actively search them out and eat them? Cuz I kept Herbert with my pikes without any problems...but I'm cautious to put him with my new fish because they are small....any ideas?
Chad55
06-27-2006, 11:43 AM
I always thought they were vegetarians and don't eat fish. I know that they don't hunt fish though. I'm sure though if one happened to cross his path and was small enough and he was hungry the fish would be gone.
Chad
Gr8KarmaSF
06-27-2006, 11:50 AM
peanut - i dont think there is a certain specific size but they are more prone to crave protein or fish when younger....
flyrt - you have 8 frt's wow!
redtailfool
06-27-2006, 11:58 AM
Jer - theres an ongoing debate among frt owners on this. But the consesus is that once they hit 8 inches ( carapace size ), they start to hunt for fish in their diet. Theres also the individuals frts personality. I had one that started to bite of tails of fish at about 5 inches.
Peanut_Power
06-27-2006, 12:12 PM
Bugga...does keepin them with larger fish help? Or am i gonna have to set Herbs. up in his own tank pretty soon?
redtailfool
06-27-2006, 12:14 PM
If its a fast swimming the might stand a chance. But bottom dwellers like
rays and catfish are a snack waiting to happen. I came home one day to find my
leichtardi aro without a tail. The frt bit it all off !
Gr8KarmaSF
06-27-2006, 1:03 PM
wes - thanks for the info....always learning something new from ya man!
peanut - guess i wouldnt risk it with fish you wanna keep! watch out for your pikes!
my personal experience with my frt:i had a 7" frt in a 60 gallon tank with a 8" flounder,shovelnose sturgeon,flatnose sturgeon and a spotted gar.everything was ok in the beginning.and ofcourse i fed some of my fish feeders.til one day my gars tail had a bit in it .next my flatnose sturgeon had its tail bitten.next sturgeon died.then i purchased a 6" vampire pleco,so now i also fed my algae waffers.once my frt got a bit of the waffers it went crazy.a couple days later my frt had the pleco by the mouth.then my shovelnose was bitten then died later and finally it killed my flounder.after that i seperated them.i guess after introducing new foods to my frt and based upon how much he liked it,he would do anything to eat it.
I have seen my Flyrts eat small feeder gold fish. They havent tried eating any of my other fish.
lil_blue
07-15-2006, 8:52 PM
lol, lalo
im a little late for this post, but i couldnt resist
would everybody look at what size his tank was?
maybe your problem was overcrowding
Gr8KarmaSF
07-18-2006, 8:40 PM
my personal experience with my frt:i had a 7" frt in a 60 gallon tank with a 8" flounder,shovelnose sturgeon,flatnose sturgeon and a spotted gar.
:WHOA: :ROFL:
redtailfool
07-18-2006, 10:06 PM
wes - thanks for the info....always learning something new from ya man!
peanut - guess i wouldnt risk it with fish you wanna keep! watch out for your pikes!
anytime sir !
its fine the pleco just needs a friend thats all, carefull or you will have Frt pleco hybrids runnin around
oh yea and the last thing we need is another hybrid like the frekishly ugly blood parrot
Gr8KarmaSF
07-26-2006, 3:32 PM
i like blood parrots, leave them alone.....they didnt ask to be born that way
haha sry man i understand, just expressing my self, i also used to have a love for this fish, but the love has long left me