Plecs Not Eating?

[jenny6165]

i got my 2 plecos from maidenhead aquatics a few days ago. a gold nugget and a royal pleco. Neither has eaten since getting them. They are both huddled on the side of the filter, and have pretty much stayed there or on the fake tree roots i have right next to it.
There are 2 pieces of bogwood in the tank, one is planted, the other not, and i have tried to make a nice little cave for them, but they stay on the filter. I have put a fresh piece of cucumber in every day and they havent touched it. should i be worried?

water stats are:

ammonia : 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
ph : about 7.5 ish.
temp 25 - 26 degrees centigrade

should i worry, or should i leave them to settle a bit more before worrying?

 

[Crossfc]

I think that is regular for newly homed plecos. They don't start doing their thing till a few days or a week.

 

[jenny6165]

thanks, i'll hang in there. i moved my bristlenose to another tank cos he was eating all the cucumber, and i wanted to see if it was just him eating, which it was. but since removing him, the algae has really built up on the tank! argh. but he seems quite happy in his new home now.

saying that, ive had my starlight pleco for a couple of weeks now and hes not eating either

 

[LisaLQ]

This is really common in gold nuggets, and sometimes in royals too. They dont like travelling at all - and really should be acclimatised to the LFS for a few weeks before being sold on - to make sure they're eating ok and strong enough to move on, otherwise it's possible their new owners will lose them. Do you know how long your LFS had them for?

Saying this - they could be eating while you're not looking. Not many plecs will clean up algae, my tanks need regular clean outs despite having lots of plecs! It's a common misconception that they clean up your tank - some do, some dont. So maybe they're eating left over food on the gravel and sneaking in a munch or two on the bogwood while you're not looking?

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - sounds like everything's perfect for them, I'm sure they'll come round soon.

 

[jenny6165]

i was just wondering what sort of temp is ideal? as they are huddled by the filter, which is where the heater is too, do u think this could be a factor?

i really hope they are eating something, i put algae wafers in, but i seem to see my fish munching on them and not the plecos!

 

[jenny6165]

my plecos still havent eaten. i just realised i didnt answer your question, the lfs quarantines all their fish for 2 weeks before putting them up for sale.

what should i do? just keep waiting? im putting cucumber in, and it always has nibble marks in it, which i think is just the other fish cos i see them nibbling on it sometimes.

im putting in algae wafers, but again i only see the other fish eat them.
the plecos have picked their spot on the side of the filter and havent moved more than an inch from there.
do u think theres enough algae there for them to survive? or should i be worrying.

would it be a good idea to perhaps move one to the betta tank for a few days to see if he will eat? or will that stress him out too much?

 

[KathyM]

Moving them again (unless there is reason to shift them to quarantine for disease reasons of course) will just repeat the stress they've just gone through and could lead to it taking longer for them to pick up. Have you put in any courgette? When I first got my Royal he seemed shy for the first day, until I put a wedge of courgette in that is, when he went crackers and scoffed like a piglet.

 

[jenny6165]

ok well. i put some courgette in, and surely enough it was gone by morning

after 3 weeks my starlight pleco has finally started moving, he comes to the front of the tank for about 15 mins before lights out
the others are still pretty much stationary, but i have caught my gold nugget pleco racing back to his 'spot' from some driftwood as i came into the room in the morning.
so i think its all ok

 

[LisaLQ]

Had a similar prob with my new gold nugget, and caught him chomping away at some left over food on the bogwood when I went to feed and turn out the lights

Glad they're picking up - any piccies? Or is it early days yet (I know how shy they can be LOL)

 

[jenny6165]

actually come to think of it i took some piccies the other week.

heres my royal plec, not in his normal spot. hes yet to be named!

my gold nugget pleco,yet to be named

and my starlight pleco (L182 i think)

this is actually a pic of when he first arrived. that was a good few weeks ago now.
ive named him Darth Vader

 

[LisaLQ]

Wow - they're all beautiful - congrats

My nugget is still confusing me, he has no proper stripes to his fin or tail (although I think they're growing now), and has more cream spots than yellow. Otherwise he's identical to yours To be fair, I only ever see him hidden under something in the shade, he could be banana yellow for all I can tell!

 

[jenny6165]

hes lovely my heart melts when i see plecos

how big is he? mine is about 4" at the mo

 

[LisaLQ]

He's about 2" not including his tail

He's getting braver, tonight I saw him...duh duh duuuuh...on top of the bogwood, rather than under it! When the lights were on! *lol*

I'm plec mad too. That's why I've got so bloomin' many. In my tank (180g) at the mo are two commons, one rusty plec, one flash plec, the gold nugget and an albino bristlenose. The flash and the bristlenose will be moving into hubby's 6ft tank, which is where my other bristlenose and two whiptails live (community tank). Dont think I've got any room for any more, still doesn't stop me looking though - just I have to have a tantrum instead of buying...