Pleco eating question.

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richardhmc

richardhmc

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 25, 2006
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Hi! Right now i have a common pleco and a hi-fin butterfly pleco in a 55 gallon tank with ebjds and dempseys. Right now, i feed them spirulina discs by wardley to them every night. However, i cant tell if they are eating or not! I think that the dempseys are coming in to nibble on the discs before the plecos get to em. How can I tell if they are eating?
 
Hello, Richard your tank is way to over stalked. How many dempseys do you have.

One common pleco needs a minimum of 55 gallons (they get up to 18'' long)

jack dempseys need at least another 55 gallons

all in all i would guess you have 200 gallons worth of fish in a 55.
 
maseyferguson05;663229; said:
Hello, Richard your tank is way to over stalked. How many dempseys do you have.

One common pleco needs a minimum of 55 gallons (they get up to 18'' long)

jack dempseys need at least another 55 gallons

all in all i would guess you have 200 gallons worth of fish in a 55.
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Overstocked? Even if all the fish are 2-3 inches long?

Just make sure the lights are off for a while before you feed the plecos and the Jds wont get any of the algae discs
 
Actually, the two can live in co-habitation. However, they should have a bigger aquarium when fully grown. 200 gallons is an overstatement though.

How long have you had the two? If you have had them for more than a few weeks they are eating without question. Please post a pic of the hi-fin butterfly, as that is not a very common name, and is open to be one of many species, including some that are not even loricariids.
 
18"... depends on the common pleco species, so many sold as commons. There is a chance that your other are nibbling away, but depending on the size differences, a hungry pleco at night would happily chase another fish away for food. If you feed enough, and switch the lights out, they would get some. Either way, they would benefit from a bit of a more varied diet (although the pellets are good too). Check the pleco diet sticky for more info.
 
I have 3 EBJDS and 6 jack dempseys. Ill post up pics to show you my plecos.

BTW, are these pleco bites in the lettuce? Im not sure...

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The pleco in the picture is a g. joselimaianus. The holes are not from a pleco. You are way overstocked for that tank once those JDs hit about 5". They will need a lot more space than that. If you intend to keep all 9 JDs I'd have a 150, at least, ready for them.
 
My guess is that he is looking for a pair. You can have a breeding pair in a 55. There has been many people to do it. I would not however keep anything else in the tank or keep a pair that is not a bonded breeding pair. Also mantainence would be quiet heavy...Ooops sorry guys I got a bit off track. Yea get a bigger tank lol.

Chad
 
Looks like your feeding some good foods, but thats not pleco marks, looks more like a cichlid taking nips. Sometimes you have to find what your pleco likes, some take some food better than others.
 
I see, well, what do pleco bites look like? are they big jagged holes in the food?

I plan on keeping the first pair of dempseys that come out in the 55 gallon.
that leaves another 7 fish.

then I will keep waiting until they pair off here and there. until i am left with a fish that doesnt have a pair. probably I will give away... or not.. im not sure.

A pair is something I wouldnt mind.

Now that just leaves my plecos.... Actually, I might add the leftover lonely dempsey with the 2 plecos... maybe that would work... how many gallons would i need for that?

At least it looks like the jds are trying something new ( the lettuce )
Ive read the pleco feeding sticky forum and i did what it said to do.
dip the veggies in boiling water for a bit and drop it into the tank.
 
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