jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 364
Posted: 3/17/02 12:23 am
plecostomus
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I know this is a goldfish site but I hope you dont mind if I ask about my pleco. I gave him to my sister years ago when he started attacking my goldie. Well, now she doesnt want him anymore so I'm taking him back. I have a 5 1/2 gallon aquarium with a hood, light and heater and everything. He's about 6 inches long or so, so I was wondering if this tank would be too small for him? He would be the only one in there. I also have a 10 gallon but I was planning to get an oranda for it, so I wanted to put the pleco in the 5 1/2.
I know plecos are tropical fish so I was going to heat his water. My sister has never had a heater, and her room is cold. Will this shock him? I dont want to make him sick. Will it hurt him to be in the tank as it cycles? Do they give off a lot of ammonia like goldfish?
I would appreciate anyones help on this since I havent had a pleco in a long time, and I want to take good care of him. Thanks!
Jenny
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barbiespoodle
Goldfish Fry
Posts: 9
Posted: 3/17/02 1:08 am
Re: plecostomus
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My experience with common pleco's (I assume he's a common) is that first they are dirty fish, real poop machines, second, they grow way too big for the average aquarium, mine would get to be over a foot in no time. So the 5 1/2 and 10 will both be too small for him in the long run. I'm kind of wonder why, after years, he's only 6", as I said, the ones I had would get to be over a foot in about a year, which is why I'll never own another common pleco. Even so, he still might put on a growth spurt for you. I gave a friend two common plecos that were about 4" and she had them for years without them growing. But when her tank sprang a leak and I took them back, within a few months, they doubled in size. I have a feeling the the temp might be one reason. I put one of her plecos in the tropical tank and one in the goldie tank and the one in the warmer water grew bigger and faster than the one in the goldie tank. Another reason, I'm sure, is because in my care they actually got fed.
Anyhow, if you really want to take him, first put him in the 10 if that's the largest tank you have for him. Slowly adjust the temp, start him a little warmer than he's use to and build up from there. Start feeding him sinking algae waffers, some shrimp pellets, fresh zuccinni. And while you're doing this, start working out a plan as to what you're going to do with him when he gets too big, lol. BTW, lfs aren't too keen on taking large plecos, I fortunally found a guy who does commerical aquariums and needed some large fish for the 300 gallon he was putting in some office building. You might want to consider asking your lfs if they'll take him before he gets any bigger.
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orandaluva
Common Goldfish
Posts: 96
Posted: 3/17/02 2:50 am
plecos...
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can control their growth rate so if it was kept in a 5 1/2 gal it might just be o.k. what size tank did your sister have coz if it was even smaller then it will hardly grow much more if its moved into your 5 1/2 gal. i had 2 one died the next day and the other lived for a year, usually by then he should've grown loadz but he didnt coz he was in an 8 gallon with some other fish so he restricted his growth. this didnt bother him at all but after a year of having him he died of whitespot.
jenny!!
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Diversify
Common Goldfish
Posts: 21
Posted: 3/17/02 7:53 am
Re: plecos...
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if you really dont' want it, i'm sure you could sell it back to your LFS or maybe they would even trade it in for another fish
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 368
Posted: 3/17/02 3:29 pm
Re: plecos...
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Thanks for the replies, but now I'm really confused!! I really want to keep him. He's my pet and I dont want to get rid of him. But my goldfish outgrew his tank and I recently got a big one for him. I cant go and do that again. I also dont want to hurt the pleco, I want him to be healthy. I'm pretty sure he's a common (tan with dark brown banding).
My goldie lives in a 37 gallon. The pleco used to attack him when the y were together years ago. If I put the pleco back in there would the problem start all over again?
Also, the reason he hasnt grown is probably because my sister didnt realy take care of him. Like I said he never had a heater, and I dont think she fed him much and she certainly never checked or cleaned the water. Another reason I watned to take him.
If I kept him in teh 5 1/2 gallon, he wouldnt grow any bigger, right? But I also dont want him to be overcrowded. I know the rule for tropicals is one inch per gallon. It would be just about enough.
Anyway, sorry I'm going on and on. I was really hoping I could keep him but if I cant give him good care then I shouldn't. My parents have a big fish pond, too. Would he be okay in there, or would it be too cold?
Thanks,
Jenny
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 378
Posted: 3/18/02 12:39 pm
Re: plecos...
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OKay, I've decided to keep him in my 10 gallon, and just not get an oranda for awhile. I dont want to give my pleco away. I'm going to put some live plants in there for him too. Does anyone know what kind of plants they wont eat? Is it the same as goldies?
Also, do you use aquarium salt the same way for tropicals? Sorry, I'm really new to this!
Jenny
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Lindath3
Common Goldfish
Posts: 122
Posted: 3/18/02 7:43 pm
Re: plecos...
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If this tank is cycling, you may have a big problem. I don't believe Plecos have any scales. Ammonia can burn them pretty bad. Learned the hard way on that one. Nothing sadder to watch. Putting that size of a fish in a tank a 10 gallon tank while it is cycling is most likely going to be a disaster. I hope everything works out for you.
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 380
Posted: 3/18/02 9:25 pm
Re: plecos...
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Wow, thanks for the warning! I didnt realize they didnt have scales. Do you think he would still attack my goldfish if I put him in the 32 gallon? Or would there be enough room for them to both have enough space? Just wondering.
Jenny
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Florissa
Oranda Goldfish
Posts: 284
Posted: 3/19/02 7:59 am
Re: plecos...
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I would chance putting him in the new tank. Just make sure that you are checking the ammonia daily and doing frequent water changes,if you find that the ammonia is getting very high, just out ihm in the goldie tank for a little while while the ammonia goes back down. That's what I would do. Just keep a close eye on him...I think it will all work out BTW: where do you have him now??
-- Sara "An apple snail in a previous life"
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 384
Posted: 3/19/02 10:29 am
Re: plecos...
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Right now he's in my sisters 10 gallon. Poor thing, she doesnt take care of him at all. No heater! You know how you guys were talking about checking ammonia and stuff? My sister recently cleaned his entire tank before I could tell her not to. He seems fine though. He must be pretty tough.
I'll check ammonia daily, I dont want to put him through any mor than he's already been through! Thanks for the help. (Buck says thanks too! )
Jenny
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Florissa
Oranda Goldfish
Posts: 287
Posted: 3/19/02 11:29 am
Re: plecos...
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hehe, is that the pleco's name? Buck? That's sooo cute..*LOL* So you are going to put in the tank (10 gal) at your house?
-- Sara "An apple snail in a previous life"
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xxblondiexx1010
Fancy Goldfish
Posts: 195
Posted: 3/19/02 2:33 pm
Re: plecos...
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good luck with the pleco!
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Lindath3
Common Goldfish
Posts: 131
Posted: 3/19/02 4:44 pm
Re: plecos...
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After Plecos get 6 inches and over, many become meat eaters. I wouldn't put him in with my goldfish. But you can always try and see what happens. Ammonia will kill Plecos fast. I stopped at my fish store tonight and they verified that they have no scales and are burned easily. They should only be put in a well cycled tank. Good Luck!
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 392
Posted: 3/19/02 10:59 pm
Re: plecos...
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Yes, his name is Buck. I set up my 10 gallon here today. I put lots of plants in it for him and added all the chemicals. I also want to get driftwood since I hear they eat it and also hide in it. I'm going to let it run for almost a week before I put him in.
Lindath3, thanks for telling me that they become meat eaters! I dont think I'll risk putting him with my goldie (he's been through enough). Since they can be burned so easily, do you think maybe he has been before? My sister doesnt understand the cycling and just dumped him into the tapwater! One more reason I want to get him here fast! Do you know what burns look like or what the symptoms are? Do you know what you can do to cure it? I added stress coat today, and I plan to add more when I put him in. I really care about my fish a lot and dont want to hurt them in any way. I plan to keep a really close eye on ammonia and add anything to help it go down. I just feel like getting him here and putting him in the new tank would be the lesser of 2 evils. (Sorry if I'm making my sister sound bad, I really dont mean to. She means well.)
Thanks for all the info, and I'll keep you updated.
Jenny
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Lindath3
Common Goldfish
Posts: 134
Posted: 3/20/02 7:35 pm
Re: plecos...
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Just watch your ammonia carefully. Ammonia burns don't really show externally. They are more internal and affect the organs. He may be a tough guy and do just fine. I totally understand how you feel about him. I am the same way about my fish. Unfortunately, I have several popsicle stick crosses in my back garden because of my errors. I have only seen ammonia burns externally on one of my little albino corys. It survived but I feel so guilty ever time I look at him in my tank and see the dark pink spot.
Don't try putting to much into your tank to help him. My experience is it only slows down the process of cycling. However, I want to assure you that I am not an expert. I read a lot of material and believe me when I tell you than if you ask five people the same question, you will get five different answers. I encourage you to keep a log on all your efforts and you will discover your successes and failures and learn from that. Good luck!
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staceyjo2
Common Goldfish
Posts: 84
Posted: 3/20/02 7:42 pm
Re: plecos...
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just for info, i was just talking to a guy today who bought a small 4 in. pleco for his tank the other day, he had a tank for 2 yrs. with the same 4 goldfish and added the 4 in. pleco and by the time he woke up the next morning the pleco had ate the fins off of all 4 of his goldfish, just be careful if you add him in with your fish, and keep an eye on him. i would hate to see anything happen to your goldie.... lots of luck
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kokopalee
Goldfish Guru
ezSupporter
Posts: 1429
Posted: 3/20/02 7:45 pm
Re: plecos...
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Yep thats what happend to my $35.00 goldfish 5 years ago, I have never placed a pleco with goldfish sence. Plecos like to eat algea and the goldfish have the highest producing slim coat of fish and the plecos when older think this is great food
All My Goldfish Are
My Children
koko
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 405
Posted: 3/20/02 10:02 pm
Re: plecos...
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Thanks for all the info! You guys really help me out! No, I definitely wont put the pleco in with my fish. the reason I separated them a couple years ago was because he attacked my fish. He completely shredded all of his long fins. So thats why I gave him away. I'll monitor the ammonia carefully, and I think I might take some water out, since I put salt in. I'm also going to get some live plants for that tank.
I had a question about lighting... I'm providing my pleco with places to hide, so is it okay to have the lights on?
Jenny
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Lindath3
Common Goldfish
Posts: 136
Posted: 3/21/02 4:10 pm
Re: plecos...
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You never said what type of Pleco. I had a beautiful Gold Nugget, but he was totally noctural and I never really could view him because he stayed in my driftwood piece during the light hours. We would use a flashlight to watch him during the day and would only come out when the lights were off in the tank and in the room he was in. However, many of them don't care about lighting, they work in the tanks all the time.
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 417
Posted: 3/22/02 11:26 am
Re: plecos...
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He's a common pleco, I believe. He's brown and black banded. In the pet stores they seem to be very active, but I dont know if thats just because they dont have places to hide. I'm going to put live plants in te tank, so I need to keep the lights on. I'll just be sure to give him plenty of hiding places.
Jenny
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jsrtist
Goldfish Supporter
Posts: 439
Posted: 3/24/02 6:39 pm
Re: plecos...
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I have a pleco update if anyone's interested....
I brought him home yesterday and he was pretty stressed out for awhile. Now he seems to be better adjusted. He even comes out of his tunnel, which he never did in my sisters tank!! I put lots of fake plants and also some live anacharis for the tank. I'm also heating it very slowly. His other tank was freezing cold, poor thing. Also, he seems to be really skinny. I dont think my sister fed him very often. That worries me a little, since i havent seen him eat yet. I gave him some peas and I think he may have eaten a couple. I guess it will just take a little while for him to get adjusted.
Jenny
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