Caring for my first plec (L75?) and what next.

[Largato]

Hello Everyone

I went to a fish shop yesterday with my girlfriend just wanting a look round and maybe get something to clean up my algae. In a room at the back and they had lots of catfish from brazil and i took a liking to these small striped plecs so I baught myslef 2 (I hope for them to be a pair!). They had an L number (L75) and so upon getting home I thaught I'd best do some research to make sure im caring for them properly. Thats how I found this website and now i realize how foolish I was just buying on impulse like that. I just assumed that all plecs required the same conditions and now im worried that ive not got it right for mine.

I know this is a bit irresponsible but having done some research I am determined to get my tank set up the best I can for them. Ive got the bug and would like to convert my tank into a plec breeding tank!

I have a few questions:

First of all it was maeked as l75 in the shop but Ive looked at the Cat e log and it looks more like an L02 or L74 to me like this:http://planetcatfish.com/catelog/image. ... ge_id=5907. I hear they are almost identical anyway so is this ok?

My tank is 6ftx2ftx2ft and is set at 78 degrees with large bogwood and some plants. The water is slightly acidic and soft with a fluval 4 and a fluval 1 pointing down to give underwater current.

It currently holds 80 neon tetras and a weather loach. Will these be good tankmates or will they eat the eggs if i decide to one day breed plecos?

What will they eat? I hear they like eating the bogwood but what else shall i feed them?Will these plecos solve my algae issue or will they eat my plants?

ive fallen in love with plecs and now I am particularly interested in getting some more. L047 magnum plecs have caught my eye. Will these be compatable? I would also like to get some common bristlenose plecs to eat my algae. will they be ok?

I want to try and replicate my Pleco's natural habitat. Does it share habitat with any of the species i mentioned? Not the loach!


My pics wont upload but i'l try and get some up of my plec and tank soon
Sorry for epic post!

Thanks for your help!

[pLaurent1251]

A pic would really help the folks here to identify your pleco, and so help you care for it. Some plecos are vegetarians while others are omnivorous and still others, carnivores. Obviously it's vital to know what to feed.

I got my first pleco (a bristlenose) sort of on impulse as well. I found good advice here, and I'm sure someone will get around to helping you out too!

Just be careful. Plecos are addictive!

[Largato]

I know what you mean with the addiction!, Im feeling it already and planning on going on a collecting holiday in brazil!

I struggled getting my pic to upload but maybe its worked this time. My plecs seem to be grazing the wood and seem quite happy even in the day (although they always stay on the underside of logs in the shade). They havent eaten anything else though. ive tried peas, flakes, sinking round pellets and frozen brineshrimp.

thanks for responding, i really appreciate the help.

sam

[Jon]

Looks like an LDA01 to me. Also, I wouldn't worry about the grazing. It's a panaque.

[pLaurent1251]

I would also like to get some common bristlenose plecs to eat my algae. will they be ok?

I've never seen anything to equal the algae-eating capacity of my bristlenoses. I haven't had to scrape algae from anything since I got them in November. I recommend them highly!