L30 Or L102

[Rorie]

Hi folks,

I have been looking for a small plec, around 6 inch for a planted aquarium. I was told to a Snowball, L102, was for me. It stays small, looks cool, and is fine in a planted aquarium. Unlike other plecs.

So i ordered one up from my LFS, but they called today to say they were sent a Pepermint, L30 plec instead. I jsut looked it up, and i see it too ahs a maximum size of 6 inch. But what like is it in a planted aquarium.

Are there any major differences i should be aware of? Not sure if i should take it or not!

 

[JenCliBee]

There isn't a plec that isn't suitable in a planted tank, if given a good diet and plenty of it they usually all leave plants alone. the only species that are advised against are larger, clumsy species which do damage as they move rather than eat plants.

Are you sure this fish brought in is an L30?, there are a few species which are referred to as peppermints and in different parts of the world.

L30 wont get to 6 inch, 4 inch is usually a more realistic size, nice little fish, quite shy but really are quite nice and not that easy to obtain to be fair.

 

[Rorie]

There isn't a plec that isn't suitable in a planted tank, if given a good diet and plenty of it they usually all leave plants alone. the only species that are advised against are larger, clumsy species which do damage as they move rather than eat plants.

Are you sure this fish brought in is an L30?, there are a few species which are referred to as peppermints and in different parts of the world.

L30 wont get to 6 inch, 4 inch is usually a more realistic size, nice little fish, quite shy but really are quite nice and not that easy to obtain to be fair.

Thanks for your reply.

Maybe its not that one, but thats what the shop told me they have in. If it turns out not to be the L30, what could it be? Should i care if its not L30? I.e is there a chance a similar looking plec could grow really big?!

I wonder why i have heard from several sources that the snowball is the best in a planted tank....any ideas?

Thanks

 

[JenCliBee]

There isn't a plec that isn't suitable in a planted tank, if given a good diet and plenty of it they usually all leave plants alone. the only species that are advised against are larger, clumsy species which do damage as they move rather than eat plants.

Are you sure this fish brought in is an L30?, there are a few species which are referred to as peppermints and in different parts of the world.

L30 wont get to 6 inch, 4 inch is usually a more realistic size, nice little fish, quite shy but really are quite nice and not that easy to obtain to be fair.

Thanks for your reply.

Maybe its not that one, but thats what the shop told me they have in. If it turns out not to be the L30, what could it be? Should i care if its not L30? I.e is there a chance a similar looking plec could grow really big?!

I wonder why i have heard from several sources that the snowball is the best in a planted tank....any ideas?

Thanks

The possibility of it been a few are likely, many have been referred to as peppermints... L31,182,183,184 amongst probably many more which i cant think of at the moment lol, each having a slightly different size... some been larger than 8 inches fully grown.

The reason people have recommended the L102 to you, is that it's a hypancistrus species which consists of mostly a meat based diet and often wont touch veg matter including plants, there are many many species with the hypan group which will also have the same characteristics and needs... however like i said... most plecs wont bother with plants if there diet is varied and often.

 

[Rorie]

Ah ok, thanks for that.

So if they are mostly meat based diet, do they eat algae?

Turns out the woman sold the fish before i even got to the shop! I was not impressed seen as i ordered it more than 3 weeks ago!! GRRR

I'm bitter, but they are the only shop here that will order them in for me.

 

[JenCliBee]

Ah ok, thanks for that.

So if they are mostly meat based diet, do they eat algae?

Turns out the woman sold the fish before i even got to the shop! I was not impressed seen as i ordered it more than 3 weeks ago!! GRRR

I'm bitter, but they are the only shop here that will order them in for me.

The likelihood of a L102 eating algae is quite remote, they mainly eat meat/protein based diet... im not saying everybody's 102 has never eaten algae but i would say most wouldn't have including all the ones ive kept.

 

[Rorie]

hmm. I love the plec form the looks point of view, but i also wanted it from a maintenance point of view.

Is the peppermint in the same boat? i.e. does it rarly eat algae?

Is there another plec which will stay small in size, eat a bit of everything, look good (like the snowball and peppermint), and have a reduced chance of me ending up with a plec which was wrongly sold and ends up being HUGE?!

 

[moochy13]

getting a plec to eat algae if a false idea. plecs only eat algae if they are underfed, in which case you're not looking after the plec properly. also, if you've got algae do something about it, theres something wrong with your set-up. if you buy a plec expecting it to keep your tank clean you'll be dissappointed.

 

[Rorie]

getting a plec to eat algae if a false idea. plecs only eat algae if they are underfed, in which case you're not looking after the plec properly. also, if you've got algae do something about it, theres something wrong with your set-up. if you buy a plec expecting it to keep your tank clean you'll be dissappointed.

I'm not getting a plec TO eat algae, that would be an awfully expensive way to do it!! But it would be helpful if they did....if they dont, then its not a problem! I have algae in my set up just now, but thats bacause i keep changing my set up. and hence it takes a lot of tweeking to get a large aquarium totally algae free! And i am doing something about the algae, but it doesnt mean i cant get a plec! And if the plec eats some algae, all be it!