Pleco

darkfalz · 01-10-2008, 02:35 AM

I'm thinking of taking home of the catfish from work. There's a bristlenose (ugly brute I must say) and another catfish which I think is a pleco, but I am no expert. It's about 3 inches long. It's fins are a bit tattered but it has managed to survive a long time in there.

Just a few questions, does it need a hidey place like a cave or something to hide under in the day as I run the lights for 8 hours or so a day. And is just one of them okay or are they social fish who need others of their kind?

Also can't say I have much algae in my tank, I assume I can just feed him wafers and things (which I am feeding them at work).

I'll quarantine him for two weeks while his fins heal and he adjusts to my water, will be be okay in a bare hospital tank with wafers to eat (it will be cycled and filtered and will get water changes every second day.

emc7 · 01-10-2008, 10:41 AM

They do need a cave, a hollow log, a PVC pipe, a flower pot or something to hide under. Give him a hunk of pipe in the QT and he'll be ok. I never heard of common plecoes being social. Most cichlid people keep them 1 to a tank. Be aware, that unlike bristle-noses, a lot of pleco species get huge.

**JustOneMore20** · 01-10-2008, 11:53 AM

I suggest you try to ID the catfish/pleco before bringing it home. There are tons of pleco species and alot of them get pretty big, so it would be best to know what you are dealing with. Also, not all of them are algae eaters, so you really need to know what kinds of foods to feed them.

If you can take a picture of the un-ID'd one, a number of people here may be able to ID it.

darkfalz · 01-11-2008, 01:33 AM

It's currently getting bashed by the one reminaing cichlid in the tank, I haven't had a chance to take them to the pet store yet. With no other cichlids to bash he's going for the catfish and tiger barbs. I can surely take a photo of him next week.

**JustOneMore20** · 01-11-2008, 10:11 AM

Since its getting beat up, you could bring it home and take a pic and get it ID'd. I keep forgetting that you don't work at a pet store, but have a tank at work... That way, it will escape the bully cichlid and you can find out if it would be ok to keep or not.

darkfalz · 01-11-2008, 02:19 PM

I could move him to the safer tank at work first, but I'm not sure about the substrate which is mostly broken coral, those are mostly livebearers. I know that some catfish don't like salt or high general hardness. He's pretty cute unlike the BN, would be a nice looking fish once the fins heal.

darkfalz · 02-01-2008, 12:37 AM

I haven't IDd him yet, but I did already buy a hollow ceramic log for his homecoming. But I have a question about it - it's only got a hole in one end - will he be able to get out once he is in? Can they swim backwards?

**JustOneMore20** · 02-01-2008, 12:35 PM

Yeah, they can scoot backwards. That's what mine does.

01-10-2008, 02:35 AM	#1
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 476 User Feedback: (0)	Pleco I'm thinking of taking home of the catfish from work. There's a bristlenose (ugly brute I must say) and another catfish which I think is a pleco, but I am no expert. It's about 3 inches long. It's fins are a bit tattered but it has managed to survive a long time in there. Just a few questions, does it need a hidey place like a cave or something to hide under in the day as I run the lights for 8 hours or so a day. And is just one of them okay or are they social fish who need others of their kind? Also can't say I have much algae in my tank, I assume I can just feed him wafers and things (which I am feeding them at work). I'll quarantine him for two weeks while his fins heal and he adjusts to my water, will be be okay in a bare hospital tank with wafers to eat (it will be cycled and filtered and will get water changes every second day. __________________ 40L planted - 1 (opaline?) gourami 160L planted - 9 harlequin rasboras, 3 platys, 3 swordtails, 1 guppy

01-10-2008, 11:53 AM	#3
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	I suggest you try to ID the catfish/pleco before bringing it home. There are tons of pleco species and alot of them get pretty big, so it would be best to know what you are dealing with. Also, not all of them are algae eaters, so you really need to know what kinds of foods to feed them. If you can take a picture of the un-ID'd one, a number of people here may be able to ID it. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

01-11-2008, 01:33 AM	#4
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 476 User Feedback: (0)	It's currently getting bashed by the one reminaing cichlid in the tank, I haven't had a chance to take them to the pet store yet. With no other cichlids to bash he's going for the catfish and tiger barbs. I can surely take a photo of him next week. __________________ 40L planted - 1 (opaline?) gourami 160L planted - 9 harlequin rasboras, 3 platys, 3 swordtails, 1 guppy

01-11-2008, 10:11 AM	#5
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	Since its getting beat up, you could bring it home and take a pic and get it ID'd. I keep forgetting that you don't work at a pet store, but have a tank at work... That way, it will escape the bully cichlid and you can find out if it would be ok to keep or not. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

01-11-2008, 02:19 PM	#6
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 476 User Feedback: (0)	I could move him to the safer tank at work first, but I'm not sure about the substrate which is mostly broken coral, those are mostly livebearers. I know that some catfish don't like salt or high general hardness. He's pretty cute unlike the BN, would be a nice looking fish once the fins heal. __________________ 40L planted - 1 (opaline?) gourami 160L planted - 9 harlequin rasboras, 3 platys, 3 swordtails, 1 guppy

Members currently in the Chat:0
	Users In Chat Room: There are several users in chat now! Don't Be Shy - click here and come on in!

01-10-2008, 10:41 AM	#2
emc7 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 39 Posts: 2,641 User Feedback: (0)	They do need a cave, a hollow log, a PVC pipe, a flower pot or something to hide under. Give him a hunk of pipe in the QT and he'll be ok. I never heard of common plecoes being social. Most cichlid people keep them 1 to a tank. Be aware, that unlike bristle-noses, a lot of pleco species get huge.

02-01-2008, 12:37 AM	#7
darkfalz Vishy vishies! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Australia Age: 29 Posts: 476 User Feedback: (0)	I haven't IDd him yet, but I did already buy a hollow ceramic log for his homecoming. But I have a question about it - it's only got a hole in one end - will he be able to get out once he is in? Can they swim backwards? __________________ 40L planted - 1 (opaline?) gourami 160L planted - 9 harlequin rasboras, 3 platys, 3 swordtails, 1 guppy

02-01-2008, 12:35 PM	#8
JustOneMore20 Moderator Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Alabama, US Age: 22 Posts: 3,404 User Feedback: (2)	Yeah, they can scoot backwards. That's what mine does. __________________ *Kristin* 5 Planted tanks: 55g, 40g, 29g, 10g, 5.5g 10g N. multifasciatus tank, 5.5g Platy fry

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Question about feeding pleco	Alin10123	General Freshwater	9	02-20-2007 12:20 PM
New clown pleco: a few questions	Scuba Kid	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	21	06-19-2005 10:17 AM
Hog CICHLID not freindly with the pleco..	Wonderful-Creations	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	4	06-12-2005 10:22 AM
how to feed Pleco	X-Pande-R	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	6	05-09-2005 02:20 PM
Pleco Id	fishfreaks	Catfish & Other Bottom Dwellers	7	04-06-2005 10:07 PM