My Big Plec Has Gone Mad!

[fishnovice]

For the last few days I've been hearing gravel hitting the glass and assumed it was the convicts as they like to do that. Today I noticed all the gravel on tank bottom had been shifted and was up to 4 in deep in some places leaving bare patches in some places. Just discovered the culprit is in fact my big L001 plec. Caught him doing some "gravel bulldozing" - not the accidental landscaping large plecs are prone to do when moving their tails. This was deliberate shifting with his whole body pushing gravel sideways He then excavated a pit under a large ornament a 12in fake Green urn and tried to hide under it. What on earth is going on? The plec has a large plastic gutter pipe where he normally sleeps so it's not because he wants/needs a cave.

 

[Big_eyes]

He isn't getting picked on is he?

 

[fishnovice]

He isn't getting picked on is he?

He's in a cichlid tank but they just ignore him, never seen anyone bully him. Anyway he's the biggest fish in the tank by far, 12in with tail. I do have a couple of young synos in with him who have grown a lot, almost 6in. It's possible they may be trying to take over his sleeping pipe. Should I add more pipes for the synos?The problem is that with th eplec's pipe, Greek urn (convict;s home)large filter, big piece of wood etc there isn't much room to spare

 

[fishnovice]

He's at it again! Dug a huge pit about 10in diameter and 2in deep. He seems to spend a lot of time out of his pipe home these days too.
Don't think he;s being bullied as he by far the largest fish, twice the size of the fast growing young synos.

 

[hotdogoramer]

He's at it again! Dug a huge pit about 10in diameter and 2in deep. He seems to spend a lot of time out of his pipe home these days too.
Don't think he;s being bullied as he by far the largest fish, twice the size of the fast growing young synos.

Join the club. i have the same pleco but he is 10 inches and he is pushing the substrate around deliberately. i have sand 5 inches high in some areas and bare bottom in some spots, all of my cichlids have lost their homes, and i dont know what the problem is, he does every night, his sleeping spot is safe and sound behind a giant dense plant in the corner.

 

[fishnovice]

He's at it again! Dug a huge pit about 10in diameter and 2in deep. He seems to spend a lot of time out of his pipe home these days too.
Don't think he;s being bullied as he by far the largest fish, twice the size of the fast growing young synos.

Join the club. i have the same pleco but he is 10 inches and he is pushing the substrate around deliberately. i have sand 5 inches high in some areas and bare bottom in some spots, all of my cichlids have lost their homes, and i dont know what the problem is, he does every night, his sleeping spot is safe and sound behind a giant dense plant in the corner.

The whole tank has been completely relandscaped by the fish now -plants uprooted, all wood and ornaments moved great distances -to create lots of wide open space. Maybe they needed more room to swim around rather than hiding places and joined together to rearrange the tank to their liking! Plec seems to have stopped his excavations now and is happy back in his pipe. Guess I'll have to leave the tank as it is. After all it's THEIR home!