I'm having trouble keeping plecos, long term... numerous tanks, and conditions???

[Magnum Man]

so I've not been able to keep plecos long term, both my South American tetra, and cichlid tanks, should be good conditions for them, the rest of the fish thrive... they seem to get lethargic, and slowly die... sometimes they don't move for a week or more, and I go to fish them out with the net, only to have them swim off, to die a week later... most have been various breeds of bushy nose, but a few others as well... my king tigers are wood chewers, and I noticed my biggest one, this morning is acting like a zombie... I wondered maybe they didn't like the water at 78 degrees, but so far several have been living with my Tilapia, in the breeding tanks, and those are at like 85 degrees, with no problems, so far... at least one of the two I added to my cool water barb tank has been thriving... it's a strange situation, as they all seem to be thriving, until one day they turn to zombies, then a few weeks later they die... all other fish doing well in those tanks... thoughts???

 

[GaryE]

Success with <plecos> is a mindset for me.

First, I think we have to stop calling them plecos. It gives us the illusion they're similar, or are breeds. I had trouble with them when I first encountered them because I kept thinking in a one size fits all way. I thought they'd all be somewhat like common Ancistrus.

These fish can throw you curves unless you research each species. I almost made a big mistake with a species I saw on a list recently, and thought I'd like. I'm sure I would have liked it, but it would have died on a plant based diet. I only found that info in about the 3rd text online I checked on. The other 2 authors were guessing.

They can be costly fish to guess with. Our guesses are costlier for the fish than for us.

They can have all sorts of feeding adaptations, water flow needs, temperature differences, depths of water, oxygen needs... these fish are diverse. They just kind of look alike, which catches us out.

I have friends who keep nothing else, and every species is a book to them. One is found under rocks in total darkness. Another ventures onto the rocks its cousin lives under, A third does...

We have Loracarid fans here. I'm not one, though I keep thinking that maybe someday, I'll get more curious. But I respect the detailed knowledge they need to keep the fish. If they were all like the common Ancistrus who knows what species I keep here (because every time I sell them all, a few babies weren't noticed, and they come back) they'd probably be boring. But they'd be easy.

 

[Magnum Man]

all my tanks are well lit ( although my tetra tank is pretty shaded ) maybe they are not getting something they need to survive long term, or maybe they are chewing on so much pothos / roots, or ??? and get too much of something...as I mentioned above, they seem to be thriving, most at least doubling in size from purchase size, before they turn to a zombie

 

[GaryE]

One of the difficulties with armoured fish is you don't always see problems til they've gone too far. It's a thing with Cory group fish too.