L066 Troble

[rabbut]

hi

I have a three foot tank, with two l066 plecos. One is refusing to eat, and I cannot work out why. Ammonia, nitrite, 0 nitrate 12.5 pH 7 gH 7. Any Ideas?

I am offering cucumber, chicken, ham and tuna, along with algea wafers and sinking catfish pelets

 

[Darkstar]

Water quality sounds ok. Knowing the other tank mates, if there are any other than the other L066 would be handy as well as knowing what the set-up is like.
But assuming all that is ok, then I would be inclined to assume it's the meatier foods your giving which may possibly be the problem. I would revert back to the more traditional fish foods, such as bloodworm (a favourite of hypancistrus), brine shrimp, shrimp, daphnia, beefheart etc.
I'm no food expert but I would stear clear of those types of meaty foods, except as an occasional treat.

 

[rabbut]

Water quality sounds ok. Knowing the other tank mates, if there are any other than the other L066 would be handy as well as knowing what the set-up is like.
But assuming all that is ok, then I would be inclined to assume it's the meatier foods your giving which may possibly be the problem. I would revert back to the more traditional fish foods, such as bloodworm (a favourite of hypancistrus), brine shrimp, shrimp, daphnia, beefheart etc.
I'm no food expert but I would stear clear of those types of meaty foods, except as an occasional treat.

Thanks for the advise, it is much appreciated. I'll let you know how the plec gets on.
There is a female bristelnose plec, four corries and some small none nippy tetras in with them. I don't think it's the tank mates, as the second l66 is fine. If it were incorrect tank mates, would the other plec have gone dow too, or could the incompatible tank mates only be affecting the one plec?
I have not seen any aggression between the three plec, or from anything else for that matter. the filtration is internal, with the tank turning over between twice and three times each hour. could the current be affecting them? if so, does it sound too fast or slow? the tank containg around 96 litres.
thank for the help so far
rabbut

 

[rabbut]

hi again

Thanks for your help darkstar. the pleco has come round again now, and is eating normaly. She still looks a bit off colour, but I guess this will return to normal shortly

 

[Darkstar]

Good to hear things are back to normal...

with the tank turning over between twice and three times each hour. could the current be affecting them? if so, does it sound too fast or slow? the tank containg around 96 litres.

nah that's fine. I have a couple of tanks which turnover at over 30 times an hour...2-3 is slow really.

 

[rabbut]

thankyou once again, darkstar. you help and advise is appreciated

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Do any of the plecos appear thin at all? I agree that ham, chicken and tuna are not good foods for such plecos, frozen bloodworms and seafood like mussels and prawns would be a lot more healthier and readily accepted by the plecos .

 

[rabbut]

Do any of the plecos appear thin at all? I agree that ham, chicken and tuna are not good foods for such plecos, frozen bloodworms and seafood like mussels and prawns would be a lot more healthier and readily accepted by the plecos .

The happy plec looks normal, where as the other is a little on the thin side. Both plecs are however eating again, so I expect the second plecs weight to return to normal shortly. I forgot to mention that I do feed bloodworm and daphnia, usualy each day. I will cut out the ham chicken and tuna, if you think that these foods are unsuitable. Would offering these food caurse the plecos to stop eating if the other foods mentioned were offered at the same time? Thanks for the advise.