Feeding L134's

[AlexAndCarmen]

Right, Friday I received my 2 L134's from Trimar. They are a good size and look very healthy, no sunken bellies or anything. They are very shy at the moment, and one has hidden behind my Fluval filter and the other under a log. I have put frozen shrimp, shrimp pellets, catfish chips and cucumber, but they haven't moved to eat. The one swims around a bit, obviously looking for food, but I am removing whole food still. When should I start worrying???

I also got 1 L204, which started eating pretty much after it was released into the tank. I know because there is wood poop everywhere already and the little guy swims around all the time.

I know with my L260's that they don't eat every day, so since they arrived looking well fed, will they be OK??

 

[stang1]

I don't think its a problem, they are probably still settling in. When we got one of our plecs, he didn't eat for a few days. Try putting some algae wafers in and see if they're interested. Hope this helps.

 

[ulster exile]

Are you feeding with lights on or lights off? I was told to feed with the lights off and for a bit to overfeed to get mine feeding as it was really thin when I got it. Just make sure you do daily water changes if you aren't able to remove the excess food straight away.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Thanks guys.

I think they've started eating, since there is poop where they are at the moment and I don't think the little L204 could have made ALL THAT MESS!!! Do they eat wood? I read somewhere they like a bit in their diet.

I only feed once the lights are out, day or night. I have actually dropped the food right next to them now. So no excuses. They aren't freaking out so much when I go over to look at them as well. So hopefully things are starting to calm down for them. They are stunning, even if I may say so myself. I am so pleased I decided to get 2. They also seem to hang out. Is this normal?? My L260's do a bit, but not like these two. Or is that just for security reasons?!?!

Anyway, thanks again. I have posted pics of the gorgeous guys in the Members aquarium and fish section if you'd like to check them out!!

 

[Murpheus]

Hi AlexAndCarmen.

I just thought I'd resurrect this thread as I got an L134 last week.

Beautiful fish, but he's been showing exactly the same kind of behaviour as you've mentioned. Hides a LOT, infact the 1st 2 days I barely saw him at all & I was worried if he was eating or even alive.

Last night I put in a slice of cucumber & this morning he'd demolished it so I'm now happier that he's feeding well & as every day goes by he seems to gain ever so slightly in confidence.

Just wondering how yours are getting along now & if they've become any more active?

Cheers

Murph

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Hi Murph

Congrats on your lovely addition (I take it the L134 in your avatar is your new guy??).

Ours have finally settled down. It took about a week for them to start eating and now they've become little piggies. One even comes right out when I feed them, with me standing there dropping the food in. They love their Shrimp pellets, and have also eaten cucumber a few times. They're actually sharing their hideout with 3 clown loaches at the moment. Lovely contrast that.

They are definitely more active when the lights are out, but saying that, I've walked into the room and found them at the front of the tank looking out at the room and they don't dart off immediately when they see me. We've had a few scuffles with these two in the first few weeks, but now they've decided who's boss, they get on well. They don't seem too bothered by my baby panda cories I added from my fry tank, and I even added a few gold tetras and a small rainbow (Gertrude's I believe) and they're not bothered by anything.

Look forward to hearing how yours gets on and seeing some more pics when he/she becomes friendlier.

Keep well
Carmen

 

[Murpheus]

Thanks for the quick reply Carmen. Yes thats mine in the avatar. He was sold to me as a chocolate Zebra plec, but after seeing yours he's definately an L134.

Theres a couple of other pics here.... http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=172625

I've just dropped a few pieces of prawn in with him so we'll see how that goes.

Glad to hear yours are doing well & I will of course post more pics when/if I can.

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Aah yes, definitely a L134. And a gorgeous one at that.

I tried the shrimp with mine, but they didn't seem too interested. My L260's on the other hand go ballistic if they smell them. They devour them with my red whiptails attached eating for their lives.

Cute aren't they. Hours of entertainment.

Good luck and speak soon.

Carmen

 

[ulster exile]

Wow, I wonder if I'm doing something wrong with mine then as he still doesn't come out when the lights are on!

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Wow, I wonder if I'm doing something wrong with mine then as he still doesn't come out when the lights are on!

Hi Kilultagh

What room have you got yours in?? Ours are in a tank in our bedroom, so not as much traffic as the lounge. My L260's took a while to "tame" since they're in the tank in the lounge. But even though they're in my room, I still go in often to feed my cory and oto fry in my fry tank, so they still see me a few times a day.

 

[ulster exile]

Thanks for the reply (and sorry to hijack your topic ). They're in our dining room - the room traffic would be quite high, so maybe he's just too spooked to come out. The only time that he will come out is when there's total lights out, both inside and outside the tank (I can see him out when the tank lights go off, but on the occasions that I forget to ensure the room light is on beforehand).

Do you think yours are a bit bolder for the company of each other (not that I would get another one as I think 1 is enough in my size tank).

I do believe that he's got plenty of hidey holes to stay in/around and he's obviously eating so I don't have any real concerns, it's just I would like him to come out a bit as it would be a sign that he's feeling more secure in the tank!

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Hi kilultagh

It could be because there are two. My L260 also came out more once we got a second one. So it may be the safety in numbers thing.

Don't worry about hijacking, we're all here to find out more and hopefully help each other.

How long have you had him/her??

Good luck and hope he/she gets used to all the traffic soon.