Hi
Just going back on some notes and I have had my BEP (Cochliodon) for just shy of 12 months.
Just some general notes regarding this species over the last 12 months:
- growth has been steady without being amazing, growing from 6" to approx 8" in 12 months;
- seems fairly unfussy when it comes to food. Accepting pellets, chopped frozen foods and vegetables (mostly zuccini);
- odontode growth on the leading pectoral spine and face has been substantial in this time;
- my BEP shares a tank with a colony of adult L014 *8x3x2 and while the BEP is probably the tank boss, it is not overly aggressive and will often share a large hollow log with an adult L014 without incident. Which is a far cry from a cold blooded killer that I have seen reported;
-the colony of L014 have been constant tankmates, however due to some reshuffles with new tanks etc there has been a few other species come and go and when it is just the plecos occupying the tank the BEP only really comes out to feed. When there are other fish present (dithers) it is quite an outgoing fish at all times of day;
-prior to the BEP being houses in this tank there was a L191 of comparable size, the L191 use to make a significant mess out of the driftwood and there would always be clumps of 'sawdust' in areas of the tank with low flow (tank has a very good amount of flow). In comparison the BEP seems to be a lot easier on the wood based on there being less 'mess' swapping out the L191 for the BEP.
-it has been reported that this species likes cooler water. As mentioned I keep mine with my L014 and as such the tank is on the warmer side ~28C. The BEP appears unphased by this. It should be noted that the tank has high flow being generated by a gyre pump and an oversized return from the sump. The display has a lot of surface agitation (as does the chamber in the sump that the display tank siphons into) as well as a 12" airstone. So all efforts have been made to ensure that DO remains high.
Thanks,
AK
Just going back on some notes and I have had my BEP (Cochliodon) for just shy of 12 months.
Just some general notes regarding this species over the last 12 months:
- growth has been steady without being amazing, growing from 6" to approx 8" in 12 months;
- seems fairly unfussy when it comes to food. Accepting pellets, chopped frozen foods and vegetables (mostly zuccini);
- odontode growth on the leading pectoral spine and face has been substantial in this time;
- my BEP shares a tank with a colony of adult L014 *8x3x2 and while the BEP is probably the tank boss, it is not overly aggressive and will often share a large hollow log with an adult L014 without incident. Which is a far cry from a cold blooded killer that I have seen reported;
-the colony of L014 have been constant tankmates, however due to some reshuffles with new tanks etc there has been a few other species come and go and when it is just the plecos occupying the tank the BEP only really comes out to feed. When there are other fish present (dithers) it is quite an outgoing fish at all times of day;
-prior to the BEP being houses in this tank there was a L191 of comparable size, the L191 use to make a significant mess out of the driftwood and there would always be clumps of 'sawdust' in areas of the tank with low flow (tank has a very good amount of flow). In comparison the BEP seems to be a lot easier on the wood based on there being less 'mess' swapping out the L191 for the BEP.
-it has been reported that this species likes cooler water. As mentioned I keep mine with my L014 and as such the tank is on the warmer side ~28C. The BEP appears unphased by this. It should be noted that the tank has high flow being generated by a gyre pump and an oversized return from the sump. The display has a lot of surface agitation (as does the chamber in the sump that the display tank siphons into) as well as a 12" airstone. So all efforts have been made to ensure that DO remains high.
Thanks,
AK
