New Pleco - need advice pls

[NoahFL]

Hello.. Yesterday, I got a Thomasi Pleco from LiveAquaria.com. After about an hour of sucking on the glass, he went into hiding. After an hour of looking for him (I have a 55g tank), I finally found him hiden under one of the ornaments. He's been there since yesterday afternoon. Are Pleco's nocturnal? If so, how do I ensure he's getting enough to eat? Should I put a cucumber slice or zucchini in the tank at night? I've been doing about a teaspoon of frozen bloodworms in the afternoon, but the fish are eating it all, so nothing is left for him.

Also, I read Pleco's like driftwood. I bought some driftwood yesterday and it has been soaking in a bucket. Should I let the driftwood continue to soak for two weeks or can I put it in sooner?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. About 2 years ago, I had some bad luck with 2 plecos and I haven't had any since. Hopefully this time around, it will be different.

Thanks

 

[smithrc]

hi - your in for a lot of late nights

Plecs are indeed nocternal (mostly) - We have low level blue moon lights on our plec tanks so that we can see what they get upto at night

Cucumber after lights out will be readily accepted, as will anything that makes it to the bottom (sinking algae wafers will be a favorite too)

bog wood isnt a nececity for these plecs but will provide a dark hiding place that it will like

 

[Bloo]

Yes, Bulldog plecs will go into hiding and you will struggle to see it most of the time - as with most plecs really as they are most active at night.
Remember that they are omnivores and should not only be kept on veg - but require frozen / live foods as well.

 

[NoahFL]

You weren't kidding when you said that I'd struggle to see my pleco. After a week of having him, I couldn't find him anywhere. I had taken every ornament out of the tank to look inside and I still couldn't find him. I had concluded that since I had a heater in the tank (I was pregnant at the time and kept it freezing in the house) and the lid stuck up some, that he had jumped out and one of my cats had gotten him. That was 3 months ago. Three days ago, I went downstairs at 5am to fix a bottle for my daughter and I saw Thomas (my 3 year old calls him Thomas the Train). I was shocked! He's even grown some. An hour later, he had gone back in hiding. I'm so happy. I had woken my husband up at 5 in the morning and he was like "I can't believe you woke me up over a fish". haha

So, it's back to cut up cucumbers and wafers.

 

[Bloo]

that was a lucky glimpse indeed - it may take another year or so before you have the chance again