Large Pleco Collection Started

[coralkp]

Hello, all catfish heads. I have just started back into indoor tanks. I have been keeping a few fish in my outdoor pond year round for a few year. But due to neighbor moving out to Hawaii, they gave me a 18-19" pleco. That has givin me the bug. So I started a 55 gallon tank for it. Yes I know it is small for it but tempory tell temp in New Mexico will alow me to place it in my outdoor pond (ruber maid 150 gallon cattle tank) I decided to visit a local petshop and found another 16-18" pleco hoping to maybe have a pair. so with that in mind I have place my 900 gph water fall pump with built in uv light, hooked to a tetra bio filter from pond, undergravel filter, and sumb heater set to 75. besides 25-30% water change 1 time a week. any other tips till it is warm enought to move outside. How to tell differnce in male, and female. an y other advise??

Tim Lynch
Rio Rancho NM

 

[D1s]

I carnt help with advise but would love to see some pics?

 

[xingumike]

Is it a standard 55? ie 48" x 13" x 21"?

Really would have left the other one in the pet store until you can move it outside, asking for trouble imho with 2 that size in a tank that can't house one.

When will you be able to move them outside?

Assume these are common plecos?

Assume you are asking about sexing because of breeding hopes? - Highly unlikely, these spawn in holes in the riverbank iirc, I would imagine if they are to spawn in a pond yours is too small.

As for sexing, this is copied straight from Planet Catfish 'Comparison of the genital papilla in mature fish shows the differences in the sexes to the trained eye. In males this is a small yet thick stump which noticeably protrudes from the fish's undercarriage. In females it is less obvious and is recessed or lies flat with the body'

What are you going to do next winter?