New, with questions!

[M'al]

Hello all,

I have been lurking and reading old posts. Can you help me with my (probably stupid) questions?

First, why is the * used to spell pl*co?

Secondly, I bought what was called a "chocolate albino." He is described as having a "high fin." Now I have no idea what he actually is ... I want to make sure he has the best environment possible and I am more confused than when I started! LOL! (BTW, he's a pl*co. LOL!) I can't seem to get my point-and-shoot camera to take a picture INSIDE the tank ... instead, the flash reflects. I will keep trying!

Tank is 55 gallon with 120 gal wet/dry filter providing aeration and current. Community tank with black phantoms (peaceful), hatchet fish (peaceful), danios (peaceful) and rosy barbs (sometimes nip at pl*co when he/she is eating veggie. #^$!! barbs!!)

Tank was WAAAAY overgrown with algae ... but it is being eaten up now. I supplement daily with veggies, but so far he will only eat zucchini. And during the day ... any overnight feeding is ignored. I need to get algae tabs or ???, but now I think I need to know more before feeding the wrong thing?

About myself, I am a middle aged-mom-corporate job overcommitted person who got into fish accidentally just over a year ago. Yeah, starting with a 55 gallon has been, er, an interesting learning curve. I am committed to taking the best care of the fishies possible, but have made some novice mistakes. I am active on several boards, so maybe we know each other from there?

Good to meet you!

[Jools]

Hi,

Welcome along.

1) Check the FAQ

2) It's a species of

Pterygoplichthys

, probably one of the colour forms of

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

.

Cheers,

Jools

[M'al]

Wow, thank you. The photo mouse-over may be one of the coolest features ever.

And, my tank has gone from completely overgrown with at least two kinds of algae to being denuded. My little pl*co buddy is an algae eating MACHINE! (And, the effing barbs eat everything in sight, algae included!) Not that this is news to you, but ... WOW.

There seems to be some difference in the amount of time it is recommended to leave veggies in the tank. But, reading that pl*cos are grazers, I am loath to leave him without. Would it be OK to do a freshly blanched veggie before work in the AM, then another (about 12 or so hours later) when I get home, then another overnight (in the tank for about 8 hours.) This is a moderately planted tank, FWIW.

Would I kill the water quality or could I pull this off?

[andywoolloo]

I have a pardalis and i do not blanch them.

I just wash them under tap water and sink them in on a stainless steel fork. One end has zuchinni the other end cucumber and a slice of sweet bell pepper in the middle. I rotate thru lots of diff fruit and veg. I leave mine in for 12 hours while i am at work, so when their light goes out it goes in.

Also I put romaine or spinach lettuce on a clip every night also.

Also I supplement with defrosted frozen and sinking tab food.

My water quality is fine. You have to watch some of the mushier fruit tho. Mango can't stay too long. So I feed that on my days off.

[M'al]

Great! I will expand the variety of my veggie offerings. So far the water quality seems fine and I haven't ventured into the realm of "squishier" veggies.

Yesterday evening, I split an asparagus and offered that (again, blanched because I had not yet read your response.) Anyway, I wanted to break down some of the woodier fiber, which seemed to work well.

My pl*co returned an asparagus canoe. Had eaten the innards out of one of the splits!

Also, I have been adding a few sinking shrimp pellets just in case/for conditioning based on the reading I've done here. I can't tell if Plecopus (that's what my little girl calls him) ever goes and gets some, but the Barbs enjoy them and kick up little pieces which the danios, tetras and hatchets yum up.

So far I have offered some salad-greens leaves (not iceberg) which were ignored. How do you make them palatable? Is it just a matter of getting him used to them?

Question: how do you handle feeding when you're going out of town for a weekend or so? I hesitate to NOT have veggies in front of pl*co all the time -- I think he might eat my plants when he gets hungry!

~ M'al

[andywoolloo]

So far I have offered some salad-greens leaves (not iceberg) which were ignored. How do you make them palatable? Is it just a matter of getting him used to them?

I take the romaine lettuce leaf and put it in the freezer for a few tics then I add it to the tank on a clip, cause i read it helps break down something. The spinach lettuce I just put in straight on clips and they chow down. With every new food it takes awhile of putting it in and taking it out some tim elater then re adding fresh ones till they recognize it as food.

Question: how do you handle feeding when you're going out of town for a weekend or so? I hesitate to NOT have veggies in front of pl*co all the time -- I think he might eat my plants when he gets hungry

Honestly since I have had pl*cos I haven't left them alone yet, but I have read that it is better to leave them for a few days with out food then to have someone come in and feed.

I know what you mean re not adding fruit and veg tho, my pardalis practically stalks me till I add it every afternoon. He stares at me and rocks back and forth like a caged tiger till I put some in.

[Bas Pels]

As I never feed my Pterogoblichthys, or Ancistrus, or Otocinclus, the question how I handle being outdoors does appear a bit strange to mee

The mentioned species all are in tanks where they are supposed to eat algae - and there is still some work to do

further, I think they feed on left overs, and I know the Pterogoblichthys eat dead fish

[MatsP]

Nearly all fish can survive a period of starvation - the only exception would be for fish that is very young. But a reasonably mature fish, say at 1" of Ancistrus, or 2" of a larger pleco, then they will definitely survive a few days without feeding - mature fish can stand at least a week without feeding. Some of the larger carnivores (e.g. Red Tail Catfish) may not even eat more than once a week or so.

Of course, if you know the fish will eat it whilst you are away (and there won't be any remnants that are causing water problems), then you can put a bit of food in just before you leave, and that way you have some food for at least part fo the time away.

--
Mats

[andywoolloo]

As I never feed my Pterogoblichthys, or Ancistrus, or Otocinclus, the question how I handle being outdoors does appear a bit strange to mee

you never feed them ever?

disregard this post i see his fish eat the stuff in the tank and he has more fish in there that he feeds and they eat the leftovers of that ...got it. I was starting to think I way way overfeed mine then. which i prob do.

[M'al]

LOL -- makes sense.

I am doing my best not to have any dead fish; so none of those to eat!

Pl*co doesn't like the leafy greens/spinach. Won't even come investigate. Nor broccoli ... he didn't even take a bite. So far, he will eat zucchini, yellow squash and asparagus.

Question: I have shrimp pellets and veggies. I can purchase some algae wafers on Friday.

Is it better to feed more algae wafers and fewer fresh veggies than I have been, or should I keep up the fresh veggie route and supplement with algae wafers and shrimp pellets?

Where does malnutrition set in?

[MatsP]

Fresh veggies would be my preferred option.

--
Mats

[Carp37]

Fresh veggies would be my preferred option.

I agree with Mats- algae wafers are OK as a temporary stopgap or supplemental food, but the majority of them contain mostly fishmeal. My plecs always take some time to recognise a new vegetable as food- several days at least, but then they tend to decide that they like it (normally) or don't (potato is rejected out of hand by mine). I tend to stick with fairly boring stuff (cucumber/courgette (zucchini)/lettuce), but some of my plecs will literally start eating before I've even let go of the stuff.