View Full Version : Can i keep plecs with sunnies i.e. no heater??
Horiyoshi III
09-30-2006, 12:33 AM
Anyone think i can keep a pleco at room temp so i can keep it with sunfish???? Some help here,thanx:):)
Chad55
09-30-2006, 12:53 AM
I know of alot of people that keep common plecs at room temp sometimes even lower (outdoor pond) with out any probs but I dont know if I would do it. It would screw up thier metabolism and make them even lazier and less usefull than they are in trop. tanks.
Chad
Horiyoshi III
09-30-2006, 1:36 AM
Every ple i had, i had to give 'em algae wafers,so they were already lazy..........but would you suggest only common plecs??? No fancy L-numbered ones huh:(:(:(:(:(:(:(:(
Chad55
09-30-2006, 2:36 PM
ONLY commons. IMO it would be worthless anyways. They would be way lazy.
Chad
Horiyoshi III
09-30-2006, 2:56 PM
I just want a cool tankmate for my sunnies,how about chinese algae eaters,give me some suggestions,i live in massachusetts 02726:):):):):):):):):):):):) Would love to have the plec though........and hey,when the heck isnt a plec a fixture basically??????
Horiyoshi III
10-09-2006, 11:49 PM
But if i gave it the algae wafers at night then hed stay alive right???? thats all i want
Oddball
10-10-2006, 12:00 AM
Can you catch chubs where you're located. They're a scavenger that can keep the bottom stirred without the horse-size piles that plecos put out.
Or, you could put chinese highfin sharks in with them. They're also scavengers, are more active then plecos, and prefer cooler temps.
Horiyoshi III
10-10-2006, 12:16 AM
Other than that i'm boned?? and a question from another of my threads that has had no response,are tetra tropical crisps a good staple for sunfish,or is there somthing way better as a prepared food?? Money no issue,i'd want the best,it's only food anyway.
Oddball
10-10-2006, 10:53 AM
Never tried the crisps. I use Dense Culture Sinking Crumbles (43% protein) and Hi-Protein Finfish Starter 1.5mm pellets (52% protein) from aquaticeco.com. For me, they're the better deal per pound. I buy them by the 50lb bag (44lb bags for the finfish starter pellets).
teleost
10-10-2006, 2:44 PM
I just want a cool tankmate for my sunnies,how about chinese algae eaters,give me some suggestions,i live in massachusetts 02726:):):):):):):):):):):):) Would love to have the plec though........and hey,when the heck isnt a plec a fixture basically??????
I keep all kind of stuff with sunfish. Each sunfish species will differ from the others. Which species of sunfish do you want to have tankmates with?
As far as the food I would look into the freeze dried selection that AVID AQUATICS offers. All my sunfish eat and food I've tried from this source. The pellets are also very high quality as well as the flake food. Basically this is the best food source I've ever tried.
http://www.avidaquatics.com/store/index.php
sandtiger
10-10-2006, 3:19 PM
If you're going to get a pleco get it because you want one as a tankmate. NOT to clean algae or leftover food or anything like that. I have had them survive fine at room temp, of course my room temp might be lower than yours (low-high 70's). They are well armored and hardy enough that they should hold up well to most sunfish.
As for your food, I have never used it. I feed my sunfishes a variaty of food but as far as pellets go they mostly eat Omega One cichlid pellets. They have a great list of ingrediants like whole salmon, herring, shrimp and fresh kelp.
there are a few "commons" that would do ok. but this is still outside their natural temp. really, they just have a higher threshold.
Horiyoshi III
10-10-2006, 3:26 PM
Yeah,i got my sunnies on Omega one flake,good stuff,from the waters of the Stellwagen,Black cod,all that good stuff,trying to get my LMB on cichlid flakes by Omega too:D:D:D:D:D
teleost
10-10-2006, 4:00 PM
I'm sure the pleco could handle it but I just did the same (added a pleco) and lost half my natives in one tank in less than two weeks. That was a bad idea on my part.
What type of sunfish do you have?
Horiyoshi III
10-10-2006, 4:40 PM
Bluegill have a spot on the dorsal only right? If so thats what i have,mine have no spot on the anal fin.
Horiyoshi III
10-10-2006, 4:41 PM
Why did you lose half of your natives??? I know the plec didnt eat 'em so what happened.
teleost
10-10-2006, 5:02 PM
Why did you lose half of your natives??? I know the plec didnt eat 'em so what happened.
Horrid fugus possibly velvet. Ran through the fish like crap through a goose.
You should be able to keep Luxilis and larger Cyprinella with bluegill with enough room.
CichlidMaster57
10-11-2006, 8:20 PM
I would agree that the chinese highfin is the best decision but it can sometimes be a little pricey. There are loaches that are coldwater fish like the pakastani loach. I have one that I keep with my goldfish and it is an amazing scavenger that is active all day long.
CichlidMaster57
10-11-2006, 8:27 PM
To make it more of a natural setting try using a smaller sized catfish