I haven't kept a pleco in many years, and someone gave me this one recently. It must be something common...what species is it? Any special care requirements?
Thanks,
s
Thanks,
s
ID please
- Thread starter kokosnood
- Start date
It's not only "Something common", I'd say it's actually "A Common".
So I hope you got a big tank.
Last year a guy on the net was selling his at 2' for 400 Euros!
So they can become BIG!
I LOVE BIG PLECOS!!!!!!!!!
So I hope you got a big tank.
Last year a guy on the net was selling his at 2' for 400 Euros!
So they can become BIG!
I LOVE BIG PLECOS!!!!!!!!!
Noddy;3099811; said:
He's in a 135. He's already cleaned up all the algae off the rocks; and I have been trying to give him sinking algae discs; but my tinfoil barbs keep snatching them before he gets them. Any good ways to get the food to the pleco?
I have/had similar problems with my silver dollars and red hooks picking up food off the bottom before the plecos made their way to it.
What I do is get 2 slices of zuchini about 1/2" thick each, and I fill the middle (inbetween the 2 slices) with various foods (wafers, massivore delight, cichlid pellets, freeze-dried foods, whatever you have really). The zuchini keeps it held in place well enough for the plecos to get most of it (even if your barbs pick at it). The zuchini alone is very good for plecos, add the extra stuff in the middle and its sure to be a happy pleco.
Check out my "Adjust period (New L-264)" thread, I have lots of pictures on pages 4 and 8 of what I'm talking about.
I've heard common plecos will start to require some protein in their diet as they get bigger.
edit: You'll want to use a fork or something else to keep it pinned down.
What I do is get 2 slices of zuchini about 1/2" thick each, and I fill the middle (inbetween the 2 slices) with various foods (wafers, massivore delight, cichlid pellets, freeze-dried foods, whatever you have really). The zuchini keeps it held in place well enough for the plecos to get most of it (even if your barbs pick at it). The zuchini alone is very good for plecos, add the extra stuff in the middle and its sure to be a happy pleco.
Check out my "Adjust period (New L-264)" thread, I have lots of pictures on pages 4 and 8 of what I'm talking about.
I've heard common plecos will start to require some protein in their diet as they get bigger.
edit: You'll want to use a fork or something else to keep it pinned down.
kokosnood;3100822; said:
The zucchini suggestion is a good one. You could also always try dropping in 2 algae discs, one at each end of the tank to increase the chances of one making it to the bottom. I've recently started using my extra lead plant weights to hold my zucchini down. The forks did just fine, but I figured I might as well use the weights if they were lying around...
I've been putting in greens/zucchini for him; but I don't see him eating it. I'm worried this poor guy is starving. He has already eaten all the algae off of the rocks.
kokosnood;3112260; said:
How long are you keeping them in before taking them back out?
The video I posted on page 9 of my thread showing the plecos grazing on/around the zuchini, was taken almost 24 hours after adding it. It had gone pretty much untouched over night so I left it in that morning when I went to work. When I got home that night they wouldn't leave it alone (I guess they like it more when its softer), thats when I grabbed the camera and shot that little video.
It also took several zuchini feedings before they realized it was food, so, give 'em time. It won't starve with fresh veggies nearby
Here's an old trick that works for me, first smash up some garlic and rub it really well into the flesh of the zuc, then wrap it in plastic for a couple hours so the zuc absorbs the garlic smells and oils.(garlic promotes appetite and the plecs recognize it as food more readily IMHO) Drop it in the tank at lights out time using a fork or such to sink it to the bottom. IME this usually works.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!