Correct Pleco handling. (net or not.)

[koop171]

This is somethig that I think needs a sticky for. When you get a pleco what's the best way to handle it from the bag to the tank? Is it best to just use your hands (I'm thinking getting pricked would suck) use a net andnot worry if they get stuck in it or not. Use nice tank glove so that way you know they won't get stuck and your hands won't get ate up.

If someone like Wyldfya or Davo could make a good sticky worthy thread on this I think it would be very usefull. Picks if possible reasons for using said method. b/c I assume it will be different for younger plecos due to the fact that they do not have such pronounced spines.

 

[cob201]

What size is the fish you want to pic up?, and what species is it? Also how big is the tank its in?

Conrad

 

[groovitudedude]

I use my hands for my 7'' Common.

 

[Knowdafish]

Hands or use a VERY FINE mesh net.

 

[r3d]

i use hands on my 11" my 7" and my 3" and they handle that muchh better than getting stuck in the net

 

[koop171]

I picked up a 10" spinosus yesterday and when I they were bagging him some little kid was wondering around asking to touch it and they told her no b/c he would stick you pretty bad. He used a net to get him out and with him saying that I had to rethink My means of getting him out of the box and into the tank at home. So I bought a new fine net and when I got him aclimated and into the net he knid of got his spines caught in the net and had to carfully get him off. I was planning on just picking him up but once the guy told the little girl he would hurt her and he wasn't going to tought it herself I got a littler nervouse about picking him up myself so I got the new big net.

And when I got him home and got some well lit good looks at him his spines are pretty pronounced allreay.

P.S. spinosus is L375 I did a little search on my about him and didn't find any or didn't search well enough. But I have looked him up for my new 125 that is cycling right now. This tank has been a work in progress for a few months now I am just getting to the point where its only days out from havin fish.

 

[Freakdaddy]

Hi
I catch them by hand or use a glass jar and chase them into that.
I havent got any real big spikey boys but I think leather gloves would be just the job for them.
Hold them by their head because if you have your hand on the back end of the fish before the tail and they curl sideways when out of water you'll have your fingers in a spikey vice!
ouch!

 

[Bottomfeeder]

I am not a Pleco expert but I spend a lot of time fishing for Bullheads and I have an opinion here. I wouldn't use a net. Here's why: I was helping a 5-and-3-year old kids fish for Catfish. They used those rods that look like candy and you almost want to eat that have no drag so line comes out easily. It's impossible to lift the Catfish out bacause of this and rather than grabbing the leader I netted it. The pectoral spines stuck up and the serrations got stuck in the mesh, and it took considerable force to fee the Catfish. And when we finally did the spine separated from the fin.
I'm not sure if Pleco spines are serrated tho

 

[WyldFya]

Depending on the species, but for the most part I pick them up by hand.

 

[koop171]

Depending on the species, but for the most part I pick them up by hand.

Even the adults with larger spines? have you ever got stuck? I was just going to do this but when I got mine last weekend the guy got me nervous and I don't want to get stuck and drop him when he gets moved into his new tank.And he's either a L375 or L380 I was told L375 but looking at pictures I think he looks more like a L380