Pleco Quarantine Care

[Covetous]

Hello everyone, I recently purchased two juvenile WC L114’s and they currently are in my quarantine tank. I was wondering, what’s the best procedure for making sure their eating before I put them in my regular tank? Should I try to introduce algae wafers asap? Start with chopped mussel or clam? Go right for the zucchini?

There isn’t much algae in my quarantine tank, so they’ll have to eat sooner then later. I’ll post pictures soon as I can.

Also, the old method of “short and rounder =female and long and skinny = male.” Does that actually hold any merit at all?

Thank you for your time

 

[thefredpit]

L114 love meat how big are they mine was pigging out on tilapia on day 1 and he was wildcaught too

 

[Covetous]

L114 love meat how big are they mine was pigging out on tilapia on day 1 and he was wildcaught too

I’d say both are around 3 inches. One might be four if you count his longest fin lol. One is extremely long and skinny and the other is nice and fat and short. I dunno if this is simply just a normal size difference or foreshadowing

 

[thefredpit]

mine will eat anything meaty so just try that 1st

 

[Linus_Cello]

Try a variety of foods. Mine at that size in quarantine seemed to only eat the fibers from a coconut husk shell cave

 

[Covetous]

Well I tried chopped scallop, they showed no interest in coming out from under the sponge filter. They pretty much have just been hanging out on that. Should I keep them in quarantine till I see them eat? Or put them in my tank that has lots of driftwood for them to latch on?

 

[thefredpit]

I would keep in quarantine till they eat just leave a couple of pieces in tank at night and see if it is there in the morning

 

[Covetous]

I would keep in quarantine till they eat just leave a couple of pieces in tank at night and see if it is there in the morning

Alright, I’ll try something other then scallops. They left that untouched. Maybe I’ll try your talapia cuts

 

[thefredpit]

mine love tilapia so much at 3.5" he will try to push the 17" tire track eel along with 12 bichirs (ranging from 6" to 14") out of the way to get to it

 

[Covetous]

mine love tilapia so much at 3.5" he will try to push the 17" tire track eel along with 12 bichirs (ranging from 6" to 14") out of the way to get to it

I’ll give that a shot, I’m sure they’re getting SOMETHING off the sponge filter, but I can’t imagine it’s a whole lot.