Adjustment period? (new L264)

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I've been thinking of ways to make an L200 work ... don't really want to spend another $75 on fish that I need a flashlight and patience to see :grinno: but will if carnivores are my only options.

I read somewhere (plecofanatics or planetcatfish I think) that the L200 are omnivores and a little protein in their diet shouldn't hurt. So I'm thinking if I keep it well fed with plenty of veggies it'll be alright.

If I can make this work I'd probably get a 3rd pleco (another omnivore that won't be hurt by a little protein). Preferrably something thats fairly active/not so shy around the lights.

I'm not really too concerned about the L264 getting over-aggressive and injuring an L200 + L___. I'll have plenty of caves for the plecos to carve out their own space, so I don't think it'll seek out and destroy any non-carnivore pleco (I say non-carnivore because I assume they are weaker at defending themselves against the spiny/toothy carnivore plecos). But maybe this is wishful thinking...

What I am trying to avoid is having 2 carnivore plecos with an L200...I don't want the L200 to be outnumbered by bullies :D

So right now I'm considering:
L264 + L200
or
L264 + L200 + open to suggestions
or
L264 + L14 + L114

Thoughts?

edit: Oh yeah, I don't have any alternative tanks, so if I had to remove a pleco, I'd be trading it to the LFS for store credit. Of course, then they would know that I've been cheating on them and ordering fish online :D
 
I have a herbivore with a carnivore and I must admit that it can be a PITA to keep the diets right but it can be done IMO(others are bound to disagree). I have a 75 with the 2 plecos a GT and 3 black spot barbs. When I feed the GT I give him just enough pellets for him to clean everything up. When he is eating the pellets I feed the barbs smaller slower sinking granules and only put enough in for them to eat all of it before it hits the bottom. As far as the plecos go, I feed the big guy a couple of bigger chunks of tilapia or market shrimp while putting veggies clipped to the side of the tank for the royal. I shut my strip light off in mid evening hours and feed the plecos then. Also I just ordered a set of lunar lights from another MFK'er and they should be here by the end of the week. I'll let you know what I think about them once they get here. I love the set I already have for the reason that I can enjoy my plecos for a couple hours a day that I would otherwise never see. My L-091 will NEVER come out with the lights on but he's all over the tank as soon as the light strip is shut off and the lunar lights go on. Not saying that it cannot be done but I think it could be a gamble (later down the road) with the L-200. My Mother has an L-200 and to be honest it just LOOKS like my plecos would eat it for lunch! It's so cute and peaceful, where mine are big, spiny, tail whipping pricks.lol
 
I love my L200!!! Though it is cute it has battled with my other fish to get pellets that have fallen on the substrate. As long as your L264 isnt too aggro I think your L200 should be alright cuz you do have such a huge tank BUT I've never kept a L264 before. As for another pleco there are just so many!!! Good Luck!!!
 
Haven't made any final decisions yet...but I'm pretty determined to make an L200 work :headbang2I guess it depends on what Snookn21 has in stock next month.

I experimented with fresh veggies last night, to see if the L264 would show any interest...nope :irked:

I picked up some yellow squash and cucumber, sliced each at about an inch thick and rinsed, then attached both pieces to the same fork and put it down near the L264s favorite rockwork/cave. I put it in with the lights on but turned the lights out about 5 minutes later. Checked on it about an hour later before I went to sleep and it wasn't near the veggies. Woke up at 4am and its not near the veggies :wall:

Took them out this morning and they looked untouched. I'll try again tonight, but this time I'll pin some frozen krill to the veggies w/ the fork :naughty:
 
It didn't touch the cucumber/yellow squash for the 2nd night in a row. I pinned some frozen krill to it but some of it drifted off, and some of it was pecked off by the silver dollars. Don't think any krill was left after long...
 
Going to try that tonight :D Also going to try to pin the krill better so that it won't be seperated from the veggies so easy. Also plan to pick up a different type of veggie at the grocery store on the way home tonight...maybe a zuchini?
 
That's mainly what I use. I got my L-091 to eat veggies with shrimp pellets and Hikari cichlid gold shoved in the center but still will not come up on the glass for it. It has to be on the ground and has to have some sort of meatier food in it to get him interested.
 
Tricky part will be identifying a zuchini :ROFL: Never been a fan, have some bad childhood memories of the stuff :D

The cucumber I picked up a couple days ago, I thought was zuchini :ROFL:

I'll definately try the pellet thing tonight. I wonder if the pleco is scared of the fork.. haha
 
just give him some time, a variety of food, and he will adjust to your tank. Mine eats pellets to market shrimp, clams, and mussels. When he's hungry he comes out during the day to eat just like today.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom