Can a common pleco survive in coldwater?

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MBilyeu

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 18, 2009
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Tacoma, WA
I know that plecos are supposed to be warm water, but I have seen quite a few in tanks with goldfish. I was wondering if they would survive in an outdoor pond?

The only reason I ask a ridiculous question like that is that it seems like everytime I see a good deal on a tank off craiglist, no matter what size, it comes with a pleco. Both of my LFS that would take them are sorta out of the way compared to my parents house, and my dad has a nice 500g pond.

Right now I have a 12" one and a 5" that needs to go soon, and I was thinking about turning off the heater in the tank, then waiting a few days for them to get used to that temp(probably about 65). Then putting them in a bin for another day outside(about 50-55 degrees) before they go into the pond. If they survived this, do you think that they would survive winter and hibernate like the Koi?
 
my experience tell me no, they will not survive even the socal winter, unless you have a 10ft deep pond. maybe it's just me. I have to scope them out and put them indoor for the coldest month. otherwise they will go belly up as soon as the cold front hit.
 
my HUGE one did. (heater gave out and i didnt realise till all my other fish died apart from him...even then it took me ages to figure out, duh, look at the thermometer lol)
but its not icy cold, house is constantly at 25degrees anyway so prob didnt cool down that much.
but i did a waterchange the other day without useing warm water and my lil once went belly up in seconds, i put them in my other tank to warm them up, luckily they were just stunned but, i never have probs before when i just use cold so hhhmmm
anyway, i think it just depends on if hes a brave pec or not lol
 
yes it can survive in an outdoor pond
but you will need to bring it in for the winter
 
How much would it cost to heat a 500g outdoor pond in CA in the winter months? Out of the question? Seems it'd be easier to do that than pull all the fish out every year for a few months at a time. But, not for an extra $500/mo utility bill :grinno:
 
Iv heard they do just fine -

from someone who knows someone that was mentioning it...:ROFL:

sorry:screwy:

yes i have a pond in NC, and it gets VERY FROZEN. Allthough i keep a small heater going in the winter. :D
 
Alright, I will try it in the next month. My dad has no where to put it in the winter time though, and all he does to the pond is set a pot with boiling water on the ice to melt a circular hole(for airation?). I live close to Seattle, so it doesn't get really cold during winter(maybe 20 degrees) and it usually only stays that cold for a few weeks. Thanks for sll of your input!
 
we kept our Pleco in our pond as we live in North Florida but once we knew the temperature would be in the upper 40's last winter, we took him out of the pond and put him indoors in the tank with intent of putting him back in pond in Spring. However, he is our most personable fish and he will be staying inside now. Pretty much if the temps are going to get down to upper 40's and you have a shallow pond, small pond you got to bring him in or heat the water.
 
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