Thanks for all your input. I am working on getting a larger fish tank. The pond is very small with a black plastic liner. It is only about 24" deep in the very center. The goldfish that we stocked it with originally live over the winter easily. We had an ice melter on the top but it just broke this past winter so perhaps a heater may be my next step. It is totally self contained. My husband put the pond in several years ago so I don't see a future problem with local wildlife. I do understand how serious that can be though. The kids really need to understand they can't dump fish in any lake or pond! It could be devastating to the habitat.
Aquarium fish dumped in my pond!
- Thread starter zzzdeprived
- Start date
if we have another winter like we did this last winter they should be fine. it only snowed snowed twice here in UA and very mildly, the temp on our pond never dropped below 60
Basically with the pleco and any other fish you want a tank that is as deep (not tall, deep like front to back) as your biggest fish is, preferably bigger. So if the pleco can commonly grow to well over a foot and usually in captivity close to 18 inches or bigger you want to try to find a tank at least 18 inches deep. For a while it will do ok in a tank not as deep until it starts growing.
A note about Plecos, they are dirty fish. Sure the eat some algae but their bio-load (poop) is as much or more dirty to your tank then the algae they ate was. I have a couple of them in my 55g with my goldfish. My goldfish are going in a 300g outdoor pond hopefully soon and the plecos are going to my LFS hopefully soon. I would personally trade the pleco in to your local fish store and use the trade in on goldfish, or supplies or food or whatever you might need. Most stores will gladly give you some credit for large plecos as they can turn and sell the large ones for a nice profit.
Educate your neighbor about just dumping fish especially into your pond. Whatever he dumped a predator fish that ate anything in your pond or something. At least they should ask you first. Anyway, good luck.
A note about Plecos, they are dirty fish. Sure the eat some algae but their bio-load (poop) is as much or more dirty to your tank then the algae they ate was. I have a couple of them in my 55g with my goldfish. My goldfish are going in a 300g outdoor pond hopefully soon and the plecos are going to my LFS hopefully soon. I would personally trade the pleco in to your local fish store and use the trade in on goldfish, or supplies or food or whatever you might need. Most stores will gladly give you some credit for large plecos as they can turn and sell the large ones for a nice profit.
Educate your neighbor about just dumping fish especially into your pond. Whatever he dumped a predator fish that ate anything in your pond or something. At least they should ask you first. Anyway, good luck.
Pleco's make wonderful tankmates for jags and other large cichlids. If anything you just got a pretty awesome free tankmate. I got mine when he was already a few years old and around 14" in february. He's now around 17" and 5" wide at the head. he cruises around my 225 eating like a pig. they are absolutely awesome animals. Mine comes to the front and begs for food like a cichlid. only problem is they need at least the depth of their length. my guy has 36" of depth so he has a lot of room. they also swim up and down the glass a lot too, utilising an entire dimension of space that most other fish would ignore.
I would keep him, the bioload is a small price to pay for such an awesome fish.
I would keep him, the bioload is a small price to pay for such an awesome fish.
I finally got a 70 gallon tank and will try to move the pleco in with the Jag... but if it doesn't work out I will perhaps put him in the Jag's old 30 gallon tank. He is bigger than the Jag so he might do fine. I hope it isn't already too late because it has been cold. Thanks for all your input!
Here is a link to the substrate I am thinking of getting
http://www.bigalspets.com/fish/substrates/african-cichlid-mix-rift-lake-authentic-20-lb.html
What do you think?
http://www.bigalspets.com/fish/substrates/african-cichlid-mix-rift-lake-authentic-20-lb.html
What do you think?
