Catching a Common Pleco

[Redcrab]

Okay after much deliberation I have decided to take my Common Pleco to my local fish shop, but I just want to get advice on catching him. He's 4-5 inches and have just bought a new net to do the job, should I remove my plants to catch him quicker (pain in the ass though)??

 

[smithrc]

Dont use the net... They have lots of spines and stuff and will get caught up in it.

We use a tupperware.

Place it in the tank and then 'coax' him into it with your hands... good luck.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yeah good luck with that! Why are you taking him to your LFS anyway? Has he out-grown your tank?!

 

[tigerfish]

I had a common plec in my tank which grew enormous, i caught him by getting two net and using the pincer method. And then dislodge any fins caught in net

 

[TorPeteO]

One method I've heard, if you've got a week or so, is to let a jar sit in the sun so it gets covered with algae on the inside. Then, place the algae-covered jar in the tank. If you leave if overnight(s), the pleco will eventually find this algae-haven and you can just pick up the jar, pleco and all! You might want to put the lid on (loosely, making sure you don't suffocate the thing) before you take the jar out of the tank, just so the pleco can't swim out. Then put him in a bag, and voila!

 

[smithrc]

If he thrashes about in a bag he may well puncture it.

We had this happen to a 6" common my parents bought... thankfully we were close enough to go back to the shop sharpish... he came home in a Vitilite tub in the end

(thats a margarine tub for those that didnt get that)

 

[Paul_MTS]

when catching plecs at work I'll get them in the net then whilst stil in the water i hold back there pectoral fins to put them in the bag this way they don't lock out when lifting out the water in the net.

On much bigger plecs i just catch with my hands.

We always double bag any fish with spines.

 

[Candyco]

I totally agree..... plastic pot or at least 2 bags..... as u can c in my sig i've got 6 raphaels n 2 plecs, woah they like 2 burst the bags. Be careful n good luck!

 

[lighter]

No bags and nets (especially those fine nets) for plecos especially those above 5-6", and particularly those panaque, pseudas species! Use a plastic pail and hand catch them if possible.

 

[Eve]

---

 

[mwm]

plecs are usually pretty relaxed fish i dont think it would be to hard to guild one into a tupperware container. I just used a next when i moved mine tho.

 

[plecoguy]

man....just a common pleco? just reach in and grab it behind the head and in front of its fins, hold it and put into a container. you can pull it out of water, no harm done...i catch all mine this way, along with many others.

 

[Redcrab]

Wow, lots of responses! Thanks guys and girls!

Well I managed to catch my pleco with relative ease using the net and my hands to hold carefully in place, I then double bagged him. Easier than I had imagined!!

Missing him already for two reasons, one he was cool, two, algae has already begun to grow on the inside of my tank. At least my new Bristlenose will have a nice moving in present.

Thanks again for your advice.