Common Pleco in outdoor ponds?

[hankn]

I live in Arizona and keep them in my outdoor pond year round, even with winter temperatures in the 30's and 40's (and the 20's on occasion at night). I have two that are nearly ten years old and are pushing 30".

Where I live winter temps reach around 1-2c (around 35F) and have always removed my plecos during Oct-April from my pond. Mine are around 17" long and would love to leave them all winter in the pond but am scared they may die. What do they do in the winter when it gets so cold?

 

[dunderman]

They do the same thing the koi and goldfish do; they head for the deepest spot and wait until the water warms up.