How to get the best out of your Plecos??

[jim barry]

Hi all

I recently set up a 4x2x2 tank to grow out some luicistic senegals and altifron geos. But I am becoming hooked on Plecos!! I currently have 4 but would like to add a few more.
I run a FX6 but am thinking of adding a wave maker type circulation pump to get more flow in the tank in the hope that this will encourage the plecs to come out and about a bit more. At the moment I hardly ever see them and certainly don't witness them eating. Could this be because of the other fish in the tank or due to flow?
I am a newb when it comes to plecs so any advice is greatly appreciated.
I have one snow ball, 2 blue phantom and one golden nugget. All small sizes.

 

[Warborg]

Sorry, but in my opinion and experience with the plecos mentioned...they tend to be on the shy side and will hide most of the time.

There's no guarantee adding flow to the tank will change their behavior... you can try but I wouldn't expect it. Most of the smaller plecos prefer hiding during the daytime.

Given time(maybe a few years) they may come out more.

Me personally, I have a 10 inch pleco(L001) that hides most of the day and I only get about 2 minutes a day seeing him. Just about everytime I pass by the tank in the middle of the night, he is out.

 

[jim barry]

Sorry, but in my opinion and experience with the plecos mentioned...they tend to be on the shy side and will hide most of the time.

There's no guarantee adding flow to the tank will change their behavior... you can try but I wouldn't expect it. Most of the smaller plecos prefer hiding during the daytime.

Given time(maybe a few years) they may come out more.

Me personally, I have a 10 inch pleco(L001) that hides most of the day and I only get about 2 minutes a day seeing him. Just about everytime I pass by the tank in the middle of the night, he is out.

Thanks for the reply.
There must be ways of getting to see these lovely fish without removing the things they need in life such as bogwood.
Otherwise I see little point in keeping them, other than to clean glass.
Or am I missing the point?
Each one I have bought were out and about when viewed in the LFS so I assumed (or Hoped) it would be a case of allowing them to settle, or add more flow. They have only been in this tank for around 3 weeks.

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

I'm still messing around with the layout and waiting for more wood to arrive but myself like you, I want to be able to see my plecos so I have an open layout with plenty of wood, few hiding spaces, etc. Here are a few bad photos I took really quick. I currently have 31 different species of plecos between 5 tanks.

 

[Warborg]

Thanks for the reply.
There must be ways of getting to see these lovely fish without removing the things they need in life such as bogwood.
Otherwise I see little point in keeping them, other than to clean glass.
Or am I missing the point?
Each one I have bought were out and about when viewed in the LFS so I assumed (or Hoped) it would be a case of allowing them to settle, or add more flow. They have only been in this tank for around 3 weeks.

Some will own plecos just to own them. I'm actually trying to get back to common plecos...they hide the least.

From what I've seen here on active plecos is they seem to crowd there tanks with alot of plecos(different kinds).

JasonsPlecosCichlids - you have a good idea with keeping the hiding places 'thin'.

 

[jim barry]

I'm still messing around with the layout and waiting for more wood to arrive but myself like you, I want to be able to see my plecos so I have an open layout with plenty of wood, few hiding spaces, etc. Here are a few bad photos I took really quick. I currently have 31 different species of plecos between 5 tanks.View attachment 1186782 View attachment 1186783 View attachment 1186784 View attachment 1186785
Looks good mate thanks for the pics

View attachment 1186786

View attachment 1186787

 

[jim barry]

Some will own plecos just to own them. I'm actually trying to get back to common plecos...they hide the least.

From what I've seen here on active plecos is they seem to crowd there tanks with alot of plecos(different kinds).

JasonsPlecosCichlids - you have a good idea with keeping the hiding places 'thin'.

Yes I thinking the same just get lots of them. That at you bound to see one of them at some point!

 

[magpie]

I am not a pleco expert by any means, but I have a couple of suggestions. They might come out more/feel more secure if you have more cover, (a couple of larger hunks of driftwood would be nice for them) and more subdued lighting, or you might consider a moonlight setup for lighting and do that for a few hours during the day before the tank goes off.

The only thing with taking their cover away is that they might be out in the open, but not very happy. Especially wilds. But I understand the desire to see fish that you have!

For your most shy ones though, they mostly come out at night because they are nocturnal, and because it's their nature to not be out in the bright open space. But I think your best bet is to make or buy nice caves with rock or driftwood that are right up at the edge of the glass, so that when they are in their hidey hole you can see them easily.

I have 2 plecs in a pretty densely planted tank with a lot of floating plant cover. (So our tanks are a bit different.) One is a blue seam BN and the other is a Para (L075). I actually asked around and read on forums to find out which plecs are a little less shy because I love plecs but like you, want to see them. The Para is very outgoing and will come out during the day sometimes and ALWAYS at feedings. When she's not out and about she is in her chosen cave at the right side of my tank so I can peek in and see her. I see the BN less than I see her, but I know where he hangs out, which is on a larger piece of driftwood. He also always comes out at feeding time.

Do you ever feed them veggies like zucchini? Even Mr. Blue Seam is out in the open whenever there is zucchini in the tank until it is completely demolished.

I can take a photo of "Dottie's" cave later this evening. (The lights are off right now.)

 

[JasonsPlecosCichlids]

This is why I like it wide open, but they still have wood and cover around

 

[magpie]

A crappy phone pic of her cave. You can actually see her in real life. But you get the idea.