Blue Phantom plec temp requirement

[jim barry]

Hi all

Looking to get a Blue Phantom but looking at the temp range for them it states up to 77 degrees.
My tank sits closer to 82 degrees. Would the plec adjust to the warmer water ok or do I need to look for a different plec all together?
Thanks

 

[smitty03281964]

He should be okay because during the summer months sometimes my tank would hit 84-85 degrees but generally my tanks were 73-76 degrees. Do you keep your tank at 82 all year long. If so why and what kind of fish do you have.

 

[jim barry]

Pretty much 82 all year but drop and fluctuates between 82 and 79 in the winter months as I run a drip system and incoming water to the house is colder. My main stock is rays but I want the plec for the sump or the pup tank for when I have no pups in it.

 

[Warborg]

PlanetCatfish does says they can take it up in the 80's so he should be fine in your tank. Just let him adjust for a long time(most LFS keep tanks 75-80).

 

[Linus_Cello]

And oxygenate the water well (extra aeration)

 

[MoNsTeR FiS]

The pleco is fine at 82 as long is you feed it more because its metabolism will be faster.

 

[7Pete]

I wouldn't go lower than 27 °C (80 degrees) with L128 because grow rate will decrease with slower metabolism as mentioned earlier. You can go over 30 °C if water oxygen saturation is at max with good water flow.

I think the biggest concern is diet. L128 is a hemiancistrus/baryancistrus so it won't tolerate meaty foods. It will bloat and die. But if you won't be keeping any rays with the pleco i will be fine. Unless ray waste food goes down to sump from top tank's overflow, where you may be keeping the pleco? So you should pay attention to any waste food that pleco could eat. It won't die if it eats once a year, but I think if it eats once a week, it will be much more risky for it's healthy. I like to think you have done your research because these plecos are not the easiest fish to keep, but not impossible. I told this just to be sure you are aware of these things.

 

[jim barry]

Thanks all for input, think I will give it a go next time one becomes available at a fair price

 

[Big Jay]

I have had an L200 (similar species, similar region) for 8 years now. He's lived and thrived in my tank with 5 geo's at 81-82F. I keep it that high for growth and breeding purposes.