Pleco Care

[Chuka1212]

My experience with plecos has been less than good, I had one common that died within a month or two, and one rubbernose pleco that died in about four months. This was years ago when I was first into the hobby and I have never had the nerve to get another pleco again. Oddly, I have never had an oto die on me which are rumored to be quite sensitive, but I fear the plecos. Especially since I am going to buy a quite expensive pleco today (blue phantom). I want to make sure I do this right.

I think my common and rubber mouth died from feeding issues. Looking back, I am not sure if I provided enough supplements. What do you all feed your plecos? I have some algae tablets and some catfish tablets that I use for my cories. Will competition for food be an issue? How do I overcome that?

I have also seen people feeding their plecos what looks like cucumbers. Will blue phantoms take this? Are their other vegetables or other foods that I am overlooking for my future arrival?

Any other tips and advice are appreciated to make my third pleco attempt a success!

 

[xingumike]

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Plecos-a...e-Phantom-L128/

courgette is zuchini on your side of the pond.

can also try peppers (capsicum) especially red ones, potato, carrot, peas, squash.

 

[Chuka1212]

From what I said previously, do you think that my bad pleco luck was based on feeding issues? Are aglae tablets a good staple? zuchini, huh. They must really like it because I see a lot of pictures of them eating it... is that how photographers lure them out?

Also, will competition with my bottom feeders be an issue?

 

[xingumike]

Unsure as to why the others may have died, commons are virtually bulletproof, rubbernoses can be tricky as they aren't designed for trop temps.

I assume this is a mature and stable tank they are going into?

what other bottomfeeders are in there and what size is the tank?

 

[Chuka1212]

Unsure as to why the others may have died, commons are virtually bulletproof, rubbernoses can be tricky as they aren't designed for trop temps.

I assume this is a mature and stable tank they are going into?

what other bottomfeeders are in there and what size is the tank?

Well my common went into a large tank with some south american cichlids (which I don't have anymore because I moved) I thought either he got bullied or didn't have enough food.

My new Blue Phantom was put in a 39 gallon community, well established (running with fish for 6-7 months) I actually kept it running in the front seat of the u-hual we rented for the move. Quite an interesting story in and of itself.

The other bottom feeders are 7 skunk cories, and my Bolivian Ram loves to pick everything he can off the bottom too.