Help With Plecs Please

[Marshall..]

I bought four Lda33 plecs yesterday.Looking at their bellies today they look very thin.They are out on the front aquarium glass a lot
and spnding a lot of time near the surface,I don't think acting too normal.I have fed brine shrimp and tetra prima but they won't feed
I know it's early days but I desperately want to see them feed.Can anybody help?

 

[The-Wolf]

get a raw potatoe, slice it to about 1cm thick and put in the tank.
leave in the tank untill it goes brown (max 2days),
but it will prob be eaten by then.

Edit
only 1 slice in the tank, not the whole potatoe

 

[Marshall..]

get a raw potatoe, slice it to about 1cm thick and put in the tank.
leave in the tank untill it goes brown (max 2days),
but it will prob be eaten by then.

Edit
only 1 slice in the tank, not the whole potatoe

Never heard of that before.It wont affect water quality will it?I was also advised that these particular plecs are carnivores.
What does the potato do?Is it just for food or to create other organisms the fish can eat?

 

[The-Wolf]

it is food, will fill their sunken bellies out and give some carbohydrates that are slow releasing energy for the plec.
yes LDA33 have a need for meat in their diet but they also have a need for veg matter too.

the potatoe will only effect your water params if you let it rot in the tank, that is why I said max 2days.

 

[Marshall..]

Ok thanks very much.

 

[smithrc]

what sort of filtration do you have on the tank - If they are hanging about the top of the tank it could be low oxygen...

try pointing the outlet from the filter at the surface...

 

[Marshall..]

what sort of filtration do you have on the tank - If they are hanging about the top of the tank it could be low oxygen...

try pointing the outlet from the filter at the surface...

Will do thanks. I have co2 pumped in there from a small co2 unit but the tank is 350 litres and all the other fish are extremely happy.
It is just alarming how much their bellies have shrunk.I tried to take a photo but the batteries went dead.If I can just see them feeding
I will be happier.I have a slice of cucumber in there and will be getting a spud tomorrow (see above). They are also very active,
when I have bought plecs before they have hidden for a couple of weeks,settled,and then appeared ,these are flitting all over the place.
Have you ever experienced this?

 

[Marshall..]

Here is a picture of one of them. I am gutted.

 

[LisaLQ]

I've replied on your thread on the emergencies board. I'm sorry to say it's unlikely your plecs will survive, it's a common problem with baryancistrus and other sensitive plecs new into the LFS.

I'd be straight onto them for a refund personally, in the future only buy plecs that have been in for at least a couple of weeks, if not longer with the sensitive species.

So sorry

 

[smithrc]

dosn't look good

 

[WILDER]

How are they doing.

 

[Marshall..]

How are they doing.

They are not any fatter but I still have not lost any,in fact they are behaving more"pleclike" hiding in the bogwood in little caves.
I was advised by the shop where I bought them to paint a little egg white over flake food on some bogwood before the lights go
out.The next day it was gone so I am assuming it was the plecs that ate it not my tetras.I have still not seen them feeding myself,
but fingers crossed they get through the worst of it.Thanks for your concern.

 

[nath1]

any news on the plecs today?
nath1

 

[Marshall..]

any news on the plecs today?
nath1

I think there is one particular one that I will probably lose it is out in the open a lot looks thin and it's eyes are sunken and black.
The other 3 are hiding a lot and the largest shoots off when I walk in the room so it is difficult to judge really.I am doing good water changes and
feeding just before lights out so fingers tightly crossed.

 

[Leonwillow]

Hope they pull through.