Gold Nugget Pleco

[Matthew5664]

The latest introduction to my tank was a Gold Nugget Pleco (Hypostomus sp.) When buying my new friend I was told the he was a veggie so I have no qualms. Got home popped him in and a couple of days later my shoal of cardinal tetras was down from 16 to 12!!! Then down to 7 and this morning none!!! Got some more info on the dotty killer (as now named by my girlfriend) and to my horror he likes fish and prawns to 'rasp' on!! Now I think this is where my tetras have gone keep finding bits of them on the bottom of the tank. Has anyone got a definite explanation for this species coz my LFS don't.

I have now found out that it might be (Baryancistrus sp.) Also given the common name Gold Nugget Pleco

 

[breezer40]

I have a couple of these and some of them are getting on in age a bit but to date they have never shown any aggresion to any of the small top dwellers (but have been known to eat tiny fry if they get in the way). They do rasp and love a bit of bloodworm.

 

[SirMinion]

Definately omnivores, with bloodworm and carrion being favourites.
Very unlikely to have 'hunted' your tetras but would be happy to munch on the dead or dying.

 

[@ombomb]

If the Gold Nugget is taking Tetra I'd be VERY surprised. Mine has never shown any agression to it's tank mates and I have neve seem it swimming away from the bottom / glass. They are ominvores, but I really don't think they are predators.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What are your recent ammonia, nitrate and nitrite stats? If you do not have them i'd advise you go out and buy some test kits from your lfs ASAP and post them to us. How long as the tank been set up for?

 

[Matthew5664]

NH3/NH4 = 0
NO2 = 0.5 mg/l
NO3 = 15 mg/l
PH = 7.5
Temp = 27 c

Tanks been up and running 2 months

120 l
planted
Bog wood
Gravel

6x Platies
3x Dwarf Goris
and there were 9 card tetras b4 the intrduction of
1x Gold nugget pleco

 

[@ombomb]

I think it's more likely that your tank was on the upper limit of it's stocking levels and adding a messy fish like a plec was too much of a load on the bioglical filtration of the tank, upping the amonia which can now be seen as a Nitrite spike. That's much more likely to have been responsible for the death of you Tetra than the Gold Nugget.

How big the Gold Nugget?

 

[bunjiweb]

Not overstocked, but possibly stocked too quickly without testing the levels. You should not have any No2 in your tank.

Ben

 

[Matthew5664]

Surely the NO2 has been converted into NO3 by the bacteria in the filter?? So some should be present after two months?? Yes it was stocked a little quicker than recommended. Now with the tetras gone things have levelled out I had spikes of NO3 in week 3 and week 6 which I diluted with a water change.

 

[bunjiweb]

Sorry, wrong button i meant to write No2.

Ben

 

[Matthew5664]

NP See what your saying 0.5mg/l isn't realy ok that was the reading befor my last water change on sat nite. Is back down to under 0.1mg/l my test kit can mesure it!! As i did stock v quickley I keep an eye on the water and test every 3 days without fail and have a note book for the results. (good to do that or just a little sad?)

 

[bunjiweb]

little bit of both

I personally would never worry that much about the water. I regularly check on the fish though, and do regular water changes.

Ben

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Sorry to nick your topic. Just wondered if anyone else has had problems with young nuggets hiding? Mine seems to have done a disappearing act. I haven't seen him in at least 4 days. Without tearing apart the tank (It is a 55gallon with alot of hiding places) I have no idea how long it should be b4 I start to panic.
There's no fish in there big enough to try and eat him. He isn't that small. No way he could have gotten out and I'd have thought, if he'd died I'd have seen some evidence. Last time I saw him he looked well and as I would expect. I've scoured every last inch I can visibly see. I've even done a w/c since his disappearance and not seen hide nor spot of him.
Hugs,
P.

 

[@ombomb]

Mine was very shy when I first added him to the tank, now he's a real show off and is always out and about. Give it another couple of days before you tear into the tank, chances are it's just found a spot it likes and is settling in.

 

[Matthew5664]

I've had mine for about 2 weeks now and hes always behine a rock or somthing!! Being nocternal I used the moon light tank mod in the DIY board and I can watch him every night