Climatising A Plec

[UK_Dave]

Yesterday I was given a 4ft tank with a complete set up, and in it was a large common plec, but he was kept in cold water (and very bad conditions....and I mean BAD!!)

Anyway, I have done what I can to swap good water from my normal tank into the other tank, but although it has a heater, its set very low as I want to take the chill out of the water, and try get him so he is used to warm water again

Is it as easy as just upping the temps and he will be fine, or do I have to up it a bit at a time over the course of time it take for the water to get to 26ish again?

Its just I want him to be happy in a tropical tank again, then add fish at a later date

I had to take him as when I saw the tank, I really felt for him as he is a gorgeous fish, but the water was that bad it smelled of sewage! The filter wasnt on, it was so clogged up with algae, old food, dead fish bits etc that it wasnt working, heater not switched on, no light, brown water, fur growing over the gravel, and I even found fish bones in with the gravel where it looked like a fish died and no1 done anything about it and let it rot! Im surprised the plec has survived for this long

I got the set up home, scrubbed everything, washed the filter using my tank water, and then moved half of my water across into this tank, and now I have to see how it goes

I know I havent done a proper cycle, but there isnt much I could do about it as I didnt want to just drop the plec into my tank as he was in a cold water tank, and mine is at a tropical heat, and if I just dropped him in it could of caused problems...Plus with the size of him, it could overstock my tank as I already have clown loaches and a baby plec

So, again, can I just slap the temps up to 26 or do it a bit daily?

 

[roadmaster]

Yesterday I was given a 4ft tank with a complete set up, and in it was a large common plec, but he was kept in cold water (and very bad conditions....and I mean BAD!!)

Anyway, I have done what I can to swap good water from my normal tank into the other tank, but although it has a heater, its set very low as I want to take the chill out of the water, and try get him so he is used to warm water again

Is it as easy as just upping the temps and he will be fine, or do I have to up it a bit at a time over the course of time it take for the water to get to 26ish again?

Its just I want him to be happy in a tropical tank again, then add fish at a later date

I had to take him as when I saw the tank, I really felt for him as he is a gorgeous fish, but the water was that bad it smelled of sewage! The filter wasnt on, it was so clogged up with algae, old food, dead fish bits etc that it wasnt working, heater not switched on, no light, brown water, fur growing over the gravel, and I even found fish bones in with the gravel where it looked like a fish died and no1 done anything about it and let it rot! Im surprised the plec has survived for this long

I got the set up home, scrubbed everything, washed the filter using my tank water, and then moved half of my water across into this tank, and now I have to see how it goes

I know I havent done a proper cycle, but there isnt much I could do about it as I didnt want to just drop the plec into my tank as he was in a cold water tank, and mine is at a tropical heat, and if I just dropped him in it could of caused problems...Plus with the size of him, it could overstock my tank as I already have clown loaches and a baby plec

So, again, can I just slap the temps up to 26 or do it a bit daily?

In my view, Best to do it slowly .Maybe a click or two every twelve hours.

 

[star4]

They are pretty tough, yours sounds just like the 2 I rescued from a filthy tank. Mine were in cold water too, I just adjusted the temperature gradually over a couple of days.

 

[UK_Dave]

The water was so stagnant it was unbelievable!!! Ive not smelled anything so bad except in woods or something...I couldnt leave the guy like that

It was as if he was forgotten about, just fed on goldfish flakes at times!

Thing is, he was "rescued" already from a 2ft tank which was stunting his growth...Yet I dont know which was better

But now the tank he came in is clean and got good water in it...Although im having to do a fish in cycle, but I dont really have much choice as I said as my tank is already stocked well with bottom feeder type fish, plus his size would probably scare my clown loaches, let alone knowing what problems health wise he may have, and all the stress he has had

It was upsetting to see him forced to live that way...I just hope all goes well and he gets an enjoyable life now, however long he has left as he is supposed to be about 8-10yrs old already, yet my old man's plec he had was 5 and the same size as this guy

Plus, not only was I hoping to give him a good life, I got a free 4ft set up with him! So best of both worlds

 

[star4]

Been thinking about your plec, reminded me so much of the 2 I rescued like that, how is he doing? If like mine he was only fed flake, he may only feed from the surface till he gets use to better food. One of mine feeds from my hand now the big sloppy devil.

 

[UK_Dave]

He is still alive which is good, wasnt sure how he would go with the change of both temperature, and conditions!

He is swimming about now and again, and is finding areas to stick to and try do his usual cleaning...The only thing I havent noticed is if he is doing his "business"....The youngster I have in my other tank seems to do it non stop, yet I havent seen him, but then again that could be down to stress of moving, change of water, and lack of proper eating

Afterall he was fed on goldfish flake!!!!

But I am also still going through the "Fish in cycle" as I had no real choice as you may of read above, and took the levels last night with the test kit and the NO2 and NO3 was very high, so it was water change time, but im adding some of my good water from my other tank to it to try help up the bacteria levels...I can see it taking a bit longer, which is why im not adding any fish to the tank as of yet

 

[star4]

My 2 didnt poop for over a week and when they did start going it was like empty sausage skin with air bubbles in. I treated them with sterazine after another week and good food, they started going and going and going lol. I did notice with mine what I can only discribe as clouds of goo comming off them for a couple of weeks, I think it was due to the stress and probably the toxins comming out of their skin.

 

[UK_Dave]

Well I havent got any problems with anything like that, he looks healthy enough which is a surprise!

His colours are very nice, and he looks good...Although I dont know much about his internal health yet, and to be honest, im not expecting him to live for a long time (he is supposedly 8-10yrs old) or be as large as the youngster I have will get to, main reason being is he was coupled up in a 2ft tank for the main younger years of his life, it wasnt till about 2yrs ago that he was moved to the 4ft tank he is in now

All I will do is try hard to give him a good life for the time he is with us, afteral he deserves it after what he must of went though in his younger years.

He has a name now according to my 3yr old son...Dont know where he got it from or anything, but he has decided to call the Plec Frank lol! Or as he calls them, 'picks'....Although when he 1st started trying to say what their called, lets just say it sound like a part of a womans anatomy...I'll let you work it out hahaha!

 

[star4]

LOL I can guess. So spooky your plecs story is almost the spit of my two, only mine were in a 3 ft tank, 2 of them together. Mine are also about 10 years old, well we can only do out best for these guys. I named my 2 Jethro & Gibbs, mainly because Jethro loves watching NCIS and it went with Gibbs who is a common Gibby.

Here is hoping Frank now has a happy life with you, well done.