Plecos in a brackish tank?

anectine17 · 08-12-2005, 04:43 AM

I've heard that plecos will do fine in a slightly brackish tank....say 1.005-1.008. Is this true ? If so, are there varieties of plecos that would do better than others ? Thanks.

Alden

cucci67 · 08-12-2005, 07:26 PM

I heard plecos can not take any level of salt in their tank.

**Damon** · 08-12-2005, 11:46 PM

Some may adapt but its not something I recommend trying. There aren't any species of pleco that is a brackish species.

**Cichlid Man** · 08-14-2005, 03:31 PM

Basically yeah, a fish that has evolved to adapt to certain water conditions is not going to take lightly to water that is completely different from the water it's used to. Obviously a small amount of salt is no problem, but the more salt you add, the worse the plec will get.

starrfish71 · 08-15-2005, 10:04 AM

In south florida hypostemus plecos are living wild(yes, and breeding) in the brackish canals. They are the common type, they get huge. I worked at a pet store down there for several years and people would frequently bring in an 18" monster they caught out of the ditch to trade for something, and one of the guys would toss it into the koi pond in the back, and I had to net a couple out dead, because they water was too fresh after the canals.
The canals down there basically are "fresh water" but get tides and flux from the ocean everyday. The water is very salty to the taste. I never checked the salinity level, but I could TASTE it.

In other words, it might be possible to do this, since the fish are doing it on their own in the wild, but, who knows how it would work out in an aquarium situation.

starrfish71 · 08-15-2005, 10:07 AM

Just had a humorous thought- maybe you should travel to West Palm Beach and catch some out of the canals- they've been breeding there for years, so have "micro-evolved " to live in brackihs water... just a thought...

solar-ton · 08-15-2005, 03:52 PM

try adding like 1.001 salinity a day until specified level that should be okay. i was gona make saltwater oscars by doing that with the babies but my oscars never mated cause i didnt have the right stuff

Lara · 09-17-2005, 12:10 AM

Three words: no, no, no. Sorry (that makes four).

08-12-2005, 04:43 AM	#1
anectine17 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 49 Posts: 3	Plecos in a brackish tank? I've heard that plecos will do fine in a slightly brackish tank....say 1.005-1.008. Is this true ? If so, are there varieties of plecos that would do better than others ? Thanks. Alden

08-12-2005, 11:46 PM	#3
Damon Aquatic Naturalist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dayton, Ohio Age: 32 Posts: 14,982	Some may adapt but its not something I recommend trying. There aren't any species of pleco that is a brackish species. __________________ For in much wisdom [is] much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Member of the AGA (Aquatic Gardner's Association) Member of the IBC (International Betta Congress)

08-14-2005, 03:31 PM	#4
Cichlid Man Super moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,100	Basically yeah, a fish that has evolved to adapt to certain water conditions is not going to take lightly to water that is completely different from the water it's used to. Obviously a small amount of salt is no problem, but the more salt you add, the worse the plec will get. __________________ If you have a big enough tank with enough hiding places, pH of around 7, you can keep virtually any fish together as long as all the fish are around the same size and these two groups of fish are avioded: Serrasalmus Tetradon(figure eights and dwarfs are the exception). I keep a successful community of fish in a 4 foot tank including the following families: Cichlids, tetras, loaches, gouramis, barbs, rainbows, livebearers, killiefish, catfish, puffers.

08-15-2005, 03:52 PM	#7
solar-ton guardian of the sea Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: a tree Age: 16 Posts: 685	try adding like 1.001 salinity a day until specified level that should be okay. i was gona make saltwater oscars by doing that with the babies but my oscars never mated cause i didnt have the right stuff __________________ minimum oscar tank size: 75 gallon for 2 a 125 goldfish can cause hith diesease! so dont feed them goldfish as a staple diet!

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08-12-2005, 07:26 PM	#2
cucci67 No Longer Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 481	I heard plecos can not take any level of salt in their tank.

08-15-2005, 10:04 AM	#5
starrfish71 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 89	In south florida hypostemus plecos are living wild(yes, and breeding) in the brackish canals. They are the common type, they get huge. I worked at a pet store down there for several years and people would frequently bring in an 18" monster they caught out of the ditch to trade for something, and one of the guys would toss it into the koi pond in the back, and I had to net a couple out dead, because they water was too fresh after the canals. The canals down there basically are "fresh water" but get tides and flux from the ocean everyday. The water is very salty to the taste. I never checked the salinity level, but I could TASTE it. In other words, it might be possible to do this, since the fish are doing it on their own in the wild, but, who knows how it would work out in an aquarium situation.

08-15-2005, 10:07 AM	#6
starrfish71 Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 89	Just had a humorous thought- maybe you should travel to West Palm Beach and catch some out of the canals- they've been breeding there for years, so have "micro-evolved " to live in brackihs water... just a thought...

09-17-2005, 12:10 AM	#8
Lara not the tomb raiding type Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 30 Posts: 264	Three words: no, no, no. Sorry (that makes four).

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