Sailfin Pleco

[pangasiusfan]

Hi I got a pleco along with my new tank. the pleco is around 6"+.
but now he is not sailing in my tank.

its the same tank, it's just we took all the decorations and rocks out.(was a cichlid tank)
when i saw the pleco back at their house, it was "sailing" under the rock.

and will i ever be able to see him swim? and can he scratch the acrylic walls?

 

[davo]

Let it settle in... sometimes it can take a week or two until they are completely happy where they are. And he'll start swimming around etc. It may appreciate a hiding place though.

 

[WyldFya]

Give it time. A bigger tank wouldn't hurt him either.

 

[Ianab]

Get some caves or other hiding places. The more hiding places, the happier the pleco and the more you will see them swimming about. I know it sounds backwards, but with no caves they will spend all their time hiding unhappily in a corner.

Set up the caves so you can see into them, they dont have to be huge, things like a 'hollow log' ornament or a few pieces of slate stacked up to make a 'cave'.

Cheers

Ian

 

[pangasiusfan]

i placed a AQUEON rock in it, and after a few minutes my pleco disappeared in it.
i was able to see his SAIL up for the first time in there though!!

but at night, when he ate apinach for the first time, his sail was down...(??)

 

[Ianab]

They will have them up and down all the time depending on their mood.

I'm guessing it was excited to find a new cave, but a bit nervous going out for food for the first time.

Sounds all normal to me

It will be much happier and more settled now it has a cave.

Cheers

Ian

 

[WyldFya]

i placed a AQUEON rock in it, and after a few minutes my pleco disappeared in it.
i was able to see his SAIL up for the first time in there though!!

but at night, when he ate apinach for the first time, his sail was down...(??)

Plecos don't always keep their fins erect, and when in a new environment, they will be uncomfortable. Give him time.

 

[pangasiusfan]

would my pleco become unhappy again if i take the cave away? i'm just borrowing it from another tank in the house...

i was able to get a good photo of my new pleco with his sail up.
now all he needs to do is spread his tail like yours wyldfya!

hey would a big common pleco(plecostemous hypto-something..?) get along with a sailfin?
big meaning 18"...and 6" sailfin.
do i need to worry about my acrylic tank?

 

[Ianab]

would my pleco become unhappy again if i take the cave away? i'm just borrowing it from another tank in the house...

Yup.. it will probably sulk again

Generally plecos NEED some sort of hiding place. It can be as simple as 3 flat rocks stacked to make a cave.

Hard to say with introducing the two plecs. I may work fine, or they could fight to the death. Generally they will work out a pecking order, get their own hiding places and live in an uneasy truce. If you are going to do it, you will have to have several hiding spots so each can claim it's own. Also be ready to pull one out of the tank if WW3 breaks out.

I have 4 plecs (4"-8") in my big tank and after a few initial fights they are mostly peacefull. You can never be 100% sure though.

Cheers

Ian

 

[pangasiusfan]

can it be a 2 large pieces of driftwood?
haha the rocks are getting pretty expensive these days. ill try to get like those turtle ramp thing instead. you seen those? not the turtle dock but these submerged ones