how to catch pleco?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
IMO using the hand technique is fine with the larger plecs, or in smaller tanks with small plecos, but otherwise the plecos are so small (and quick) it can be hard just to get them into a position where you can pick them up and you risk just "grabbing for it" and risk damage to it. Mainly talking about plecs under 6 or 7 inches
 
Actually i find the smaller plecs easier to grab by hand. They won't thrash as much. If they are REALLY small than I cup them completely. If they are medium, around 3-5" they are the same as plecs up to 12", the larger ones are where you start talking about two hands.
 
My plecos particularly the hypancistrus there'd be no chance of you catching them... i've tried many a time, same with most species i've tried with. In fact the only thing i've managed to pick out of a tank are "commons", gibbys, large L007 and a big L128. Maybe i've got crap reactions lol
 
I've caught every single one of my plecos that way. Even the baby zebra, coaxing him to let go of the glass and fall into my hand took a VERY long time, but he didn't have to worry about the net! I've caught many L260s this way, as well as my a. adonis, which is a painful thing, but I don't want to imagine an adonis in all its glory stuck in a net.
 
As soon as i have moved my hand into the tank, all my plecos miraculously dissappear, they certainly arent on the glass or in the open at all. Thats the half the problem with my plecs.
 
You should try to keep you hands in the tank more, and even move towards the plecos often to try to get them use to your hands. If you work hard, and in the right way, you can end up having your plecs trained to come to your hand, and even sit in it and eat out of it. I have done that with two plecos now to the level of them coming to my hand and siting in my hand, or suctioning to my hand.
 
I like the idea of that, but i tend to try and just leave my plecs to it. It's not too often i need to move them from tank to tank anyway.
 
Ive been picking up by hand,learned that on mfk.All mine are remarkably docile when picked up by hand
 
I wont touch the fish with my hands, gross!! Just use 2 nets. Chase him with one net into the other and PRESTO! I find Plecos to be too fast to catch with my hands anyways. I've never had one get caught in the net at all but I do find that they dont fight once out of water, they just stiffen up and make it easy to take out of the net once in the new water. Just my $.02
 
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