Carnivorous Rubberlip?

dwool36 · 06-20-2006, 05:25 AM

I have a ram tank that started with 40 fry and one rubberlip pleaco (less than 2"). Each morning I would wake to find fewer and fewer fry. I am now down to 5. There are no little bodies laying around each morning...just missing fry. I have raised fry with this rubberlip before with no problems. Is there a chance that he is eating the fry? My last batch, I only lost 5 fry out of 30.

pureplecs · 06-20-2006, 05:35 AM

I would say that if the fry are dying the rubber lip is probably eating the babies carcasses (that and/or if you have snails) but... I've seen a lot of ram parents eat their fry when they become free swimming, could be water conditions...

The only way I could see the rubber lip eating them live is if they were hiding in the gravel and the rubber lip came along and sucked them up... but the rubberlip would not seek and hunt the babies for food. Raising babies is a delicate job, are you sure the water conditions are optimal? Is there gravel in the tank? Other tank mates?

dwool36 · 06-20-2006, 06:26 AM

Water is at 6.0 ph, 0 amm, 0 nitrites >5nitrates 82 degrees. 30% water change twice/weekly to keep nitrates below 5.0. Parents are removed when they first become free swimming (almost 2 weeks ago). Only other occupants are a couple of pond snails. Heavily planted (flourite) Sponge filter. Very well seasoned tank. I have raised 2 other batches of Ram fry under these exact same conditions in the same tank with very minimal losses for Rams (15% - 20%).

Sprite42 · 06-20-2006, 06:33 AM

As rubberlips get older, they will take advantage of fry that are hiding in the substrate. They don't actively seek them out, but if they come across them, they will not turn down a snack. Plecos are not completely herbivorous.

dwool36 · 06-20-2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

As rubberlips get older, they will take advantage of fry that are hiding in the substrate.

I was afraid that was what might be happening. I guess I will have to remove him and replace him with a couple of otos. They shouldn't eat fry should they?

Sprite42 · 06-20-2006, 08:29 AM

Otos or BN are usually a safe bet for fry tanks. I have endler fry in with both otos and BN's. I am beginning to wish they would snack on just some of them. LOL

Durbkat · 06-20-2006, 09:30 AM

I could take your bushy pleco if you plan on getting rid of it to replace it with otto's or BN.

Alin10123 · 06-21-2006, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Durbkat

I could take your bushy pleco if you plan on getting rid of it to replace it with otto's or BN.

he doesn't have a bushynose. He's got a rubberlip.

pureplecs · 06-22-2006, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alin10123

he doesn't have a bushynose. He's got a rubberlip.

I believe Durb may have been referencing the bristle nose that dwool (original poster) included in their stock list

.

Durbkat · 06-22-2006, 08:54 PM

Opps I was talking about the rubber lip pleco, I guess I just wasn't thinking straight when I said that. LOL

06-20-2006, 05:25 AM	#1
dwool36 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 312	Carnivorous Rubberlip? I have a ram tank that started with 40 fry and one rubberlip pleaco (less than 2"). Each morning I would wake to find fewer and fewer fry. I am now down to 5. There are no little bodies laying around each morning...just missing fry. I have raised fry with this rubberlip before with no problems. Is there a chance that he is eating the fry? My last batch, I only lost 5 fry out of 30.

06-20-2006, 06:26 AM	#3
dwool36 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 312	Water is at 6.0 ph, 0 amm, 0 nitrites >5nitrates 82 degrees. 30% water change twice/weekly to keep nitrates below 5.0. Parents are removed when they first become free swimming (almost 2 weeks ago). Only other occupants are a couple of pond snails. Heavily planted (flourite) Sponge filter. Very well seasoned tank. I have raised 2 other batches of Ram fry under these exact same conditions in the same tank with very minimal losses for Rams (15% - 20%). __________________ 55 gallon planted 8 Kribs 6 black neons 8 cardinal tetras 1 bushynose pleco 55 Gallon community Northern Mountain Swortails Fancy Guppies 3 YoYo Loaches 15gallon planted Breeding Pair Blue Rams 29 Gallon Breeding Pair Keyhole Chichlids 2 green corys 2 spotted corys

06-20-2006, 06:33 AM	#4
Sprite42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Age: 46 Posts: 315	As rubberlips get older, they will take advantage of fry that are hiding in the substrate. They don't actively seek them out, but if they come across them, they will not turn down a snack. Plecos are not completely herbivorous. __________________ First, Do No Harm!

06-20-2006, 08:29 AM	#6
Sprite42 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Arkansas Age: 46 Posts: 315	Otos or BN are usually a safe bet for fry tanks. I have endler fry in with both otos and BN's. I am beginning to wish they would snack on just some of them. LOL __________________ First, Do No Harm!

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06-20-2006, 05:35 AM	#2
pureplecs Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Age: 30 Posts: 64	I would say that if the fry are dying the rubber lip is probably eating the babies carcasses (that and/or if you have snails) but... I've seen a lot of ram parents eat their fry when they become free swimming, could be water conditions... The only way I could see the rubber lip eating them live is if they were hiding in the gravel and the rubber lip came along and sucked them up... but the rubberlip would not seek and hunt the babies for food. Raising babies is a delicate job, are you sure the water conditions are optimal? Is there gravel in the tank? Other tank mates?

06-20-2006, 09:30 AM	#7
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112	I could take your bushy pleco if you plan on getting rid of it to replace it with otto's or BN.

06-22-2006, 08:54 PM	#10
Durbkat It's the Evil Monkey!! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Kentucky Age: 17 Posts: 1,112	Opps I was talking about the rubber lip pleco, I guess I just wasn't thinking straight when I said that. LOL

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