Sailfin Pleco

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Diftwood/bogwood will be OK.

They dont need designer rocks ;) I guess it depends where you live, but I pick them up at the local rivers / beaches / side of the road.
Otherwise try a garden landscape place, they sell rocks by the ton (literally). You can probably buy as many rocks you can carry for $10 :D

You can buy resin or ceramic 'hollow log' ornaments too, plecs love them to hide in.

Cheers

Ian
 
are the garden shop rocks safe?

here's a shot of my pleco sailing after putting in the cave rock.
so they don't always sail, even when used to the tank? when do they sail?

hey also, he's around 6" but he's not eating much. doesn't even eat a whole 3x3 spinach piece...is that how low their appetites are? or does he still need to get used to the tank?:confused:

bday 007.jpg
 
are the garden shop rocks safe?
Click to expand...

Generally yes, they are just rocks.. same as you find in rivers and lakes, where fish naturally live.
Just avoid limestone rock, it will mess with the waters pH and hardness.
If you dont know, pour some vinegar on the rock, if it fizzes and bubbles then it's lime. dont use it. If nothing happens, then it's just a normal rock and fine to use.

Dont use concrete 'rocks' though, they are made with cement (Limestone)

Your Goldspot pleco looks to be in good condition, nice rounded belly and good fins so I wouldn't worry. Maybe he just doesn't like spinach ;). Try some other veges and some pleco tablets.

Plecs will have their fins up and down all the time. Just depends on their mood.

Cheers

Ian
 
lol i was wondering what you meant by sail. A sailfin would be considered as P. gibbiceps, this pleco pictured is P. joselimaianus. Try switching around the foods you try, like people plecos have preferences and maybe it isn't spinachs' biggest fan.
 
Dont always use vegetable based foods too. Almost any pleco will enjoy a meaty treat once, twice, maybe more a week, depending on the species.
 
AHHHHH what????????
are goldspots rare?
i liked sailfins.....so this one isn't gonna sail that often then huh??
what if I get a juvenile sailfin, would the 6" "goldspot"(darn..) bully on the baby sailfin?
can goldspots damage acrylic tanks?

hey i tried cucumber last night, woke up this morning, he ate only the inside and left a circular outside.lol what is up with this?
he also didn't seem to finish the whole inside, but is the food too much? do they not eat alot? i'm sorry i have no idea on how much plecos eat, etc..
 
No, not very rare.. they are a farm bred fish the same as the commons and sailfins. They may cost you a few dollars more to buy, but they aren't 'exotic'. The Sailfin does have a bigger dorsal fin, the goldspots is a close second. As he settles in more he will probably get bolder and you will see him swimming about more. Unless you have a really big tank, stay with the goldspot, they dont grow as big as the sailfins.

His attack on the cucumber sounds normal. They eat the best bit first and just eat as much as they feel like. Just take out the leftovers and put something else in the next day. Thats another big advantage of feeding them fresh vege, you cant really overfeed. They will eat what they want, and you take the rest away next day.

At least you know he is eating OK. Mine like mushroom and frozen green beans, zuchini is a favourite with most plecs, and there are lots of other veges you can try.

Cheers

Ian
 
oh..

hey my goldspot seems to have pale areas on his dark body...or dark areas on his pale body... but are these heater burns or something??
and when you say swimming around; like crawling on the walls or the bottom or actually swimming like "fish"?

i thought the 6"er would be able to finish off the whole cucumber circle...so i guess they don't eat as much as i was thinking huh?! hey are the butts of vegetables(the part we throw away) good for them?
is your water quality o.k. with having veggies in for many hours?

hey thanks for the advice, but would a 6" goldspot stay cool with a baby sailfin?
 
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