L 333 information needed

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 14 Nov 2005, 19:14

Can anyone give me any information on the L333. I have a young one ( about 1.5inch)who has been hiding now for a few days and hasnt come out at all he is in the cave, Is this normal for a L333. Ime not too worrid about him just yet just wanted any info if possible as find it hard to get any on line.
He is in a 40g tank with just a ruby shark who sits with him. This is a new tank set up up and running a few weeks and all water tests are fine. Nothing else going in till after xmas.

Thanks in advance.

Dawn

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 14 Nov 2005, 20:29

Hi Dawn,

Yes, most Loricariidae will hide most of the time. They usually get a bit more outgoing when they have been in the tank for a bit, and the more various hiding spaces you have, the more likely they are to get out when lights are on.

There's some info on , but you can also find some useufl info on other Hypancistrs species, for instance in Shane's World. There are breeding articles for H. Zebra and other Hypancistrus species there, and these species are very similar in behaviour and husbandry, so read anything you find about Hypancistrus, and it should apply to your fish [Obviously aside from things like patterns and size, which are different for each of the Hypancistrus species].

While you're there, I suspect you'll benefit from reading my feeding article. Your fish is a carnivore, so mostly fish-/sea-food based foods would be the general diet, with a bit of vegetable thrown in for good measure.

--
Mats

Post by **Barbie** » 14 Nov 2005, 20:31

When you say the water tests are fine, what exactly are you testing for? A few weeks isn't long enough to effectively "cycle" an aquarium, so you'll want to be very careful with not overfeeding or you'll lose your new pleco. They are VERY sensitive to ammonia and nitrites, both of which you're going to see in the cycling process.

Hiding is totally normal for him. Once he's acclimated and not stressed, he'll start coming out more often to forage around for food. It can take a good while for that to happen though.

Barbie

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 14 Nov 2005, 20:56

Thankyou for your advice I will certainly look it up. I test for amonia and nitrite everyday at the mo to check the levels and they are fine and i am doing a water change every other day of 10%. I have a 90 gallon tank in my living room thats my husbands tank..so we are quite up on keeping things in order. (although learning all the time as we all do)

Thanks again. Thats put my mind at rest,
I will be putting a striped talking cat fish in the tank after xmas that someone has for me. We have a common plec in the other tank with catfish (who got stuck in a log last week and we had to cut him free..very mad situation and scarey.

thanks again

Dawn

Owch · Post by **Owch** » 14 Nov 2005, 21:05

I have 6 of these littler fellers (Well, 4 fellers and 2 ladies) in a 180l tank (set up like a river tank, sort of, but I need more power heads and flow.)

I built 5 caves for them and a bit of bog wood for alternative cover, as the info on L333's says, "males will go to the caves", which appeared to be true, I hardly ever saw the males and the females dig about in the sand under the bogwood.

I asked the question on here about suitable tank mates that would cope with the current and would swim mid to upper water, and after some suggestions, I decided to get 10 Blue Tetras, these were to act as a dither and entice the L333's out of there caves. This didnt immediatly work, but after a week of these little tetras zipping around the tank, the males are now usually situated with their heads poking out of there caves having a nose. They dont even panic and retreat when I appear

I very rarely catch them feeding during the day and usually feed them early evening, with the tank lights off, and a lamp next to the tank on. They will then readily come out for a root round for food.

As MatsP said, they like meatier food, but will eat dried foods. Mine eat Hikari Algae Wafers, Tetra Vareity Wafers, Tetra Prima, chopped prawns & trout (I buy 100g fresh peeled prawns and/or trout and chop them up a little, pop them in an ASDA sealable food bag and roll it out quite flat (1cm thick) then put this in the freezer, I then just snap off a bit at a time and finely chop this up and feed it to the fish)they will even attempt the odd bit of courgette.

Tom

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 15 Nov 2005, 10:24

Hi mitmop.

I presume you're using tapwater, and being in herts, it is quite hard and slightly alkaline.

Although as you've probably read, these fish prefer soft slightly acid water. However, plecs are quite adaptable little fellows, and as long as everything else is to their satisfaction, they should be fine in that water once they get used to it. The trick is to keep it clean with weekly 25% water changes.

As Barbie mentioned, what is "fine" when it comes to ammonia and nitrite levels? Is this the level the guy in the fish shop said would be OK, or the level it says on the test kit packet would be OK?

The only level that is OK is zero. If your tank is still cycling them you will need amounts of ammonia and nitrite to allow the tank to cycle, if you get me?

Which makes me wonder, how come you're cycling a tank with such an expensive fish? usually people use hardy fish like mollies or something, as these are tougher and more "expendable"

I hope it doesn't sound like im having a go, but I'm just trying to make sure you understand the concept of cycling.

It does sound you're doing everything OK though.

If your 90 gallon tank is well established, then a good idea is to clean the filter media in your new tank. Yes the water will go really manky, but all the good bacteria will colonise your new tank much faster.

The biggest factor in helping your L333 become more active is the light levels. If lighting is subdued, then he will feel much more secure. A good way of doing this is with floating plants such as water lettuce (Pistia stratiodes). These will also suck up loads of the nitrates that build up in the tank.

Also, having loads of decent hiding places will make him come out more!!, as if safety is only a flick of the tail away, he'll feel more confident to be adventurous.

Whatever you do, resist the temptation to keep feeding him if he doesn't seem to be eating. You'll pollute the water very quickly. I've killed fish by doing this before.

Feed something like a quarter of an algae wafer every other night after lights out. if the shark eats it, try a slightly larger piece.

As MatsP said, it's normal for most plecs not to be active all day. They will only come out at feeding time. My tank looks empty, until feeding time when it's like that scene in the film Aliens.......

"they're coming outta tha goddam walls man!"

Anyway, best of luck.

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 15 Nov 2005, 20:04

Thankyou for your reply. The reason I have put this fish in my tank is that he is small and the two fish together dont produce much waist between them so i can keep control of the water until it cycles and these are the only two fish i wanted just now instead of buying fish i didnt want because they are hardy if you know what i mean. There is a slight nitrite (very slight) yesterday and no amonia. i am a bit reluctant to put anything in from my other tank as we have had velvet and lost 5 lovely fish and we are coming to the end of that now and its all cleared up and fine. (unfortunatly that was just pure lack of knowing what they had!! until it was a bit too late).I am only familiar with white spot. I have a ghost fish to put in the tank from my other tank as i have two and they dont realy get on that well and a striped cat fish waiting to go into the tank when it is ready. Yes the tap water is naturaly high in nitrates before you even put it in the tank so i use chlorine remover and this brings the nitrates down a bit.

Anyway thanks for the information i am worried about him that he will starve himself as the shark eats whatever i put in the tank. and i havent seen him come out at all!! He is in a cave hiding and there are lots of places for him to hide around the tank.

I dont know if he has been out or not!!

oh well wil have to keep monotoring him for a while.

Will keep u updated

Dawn

Owch · Post by **Owch** » 15 Nov 2005, 20:59

From my brief experiences with these little fellers, any nitrites will be a problem, especially if this guy has come from your LFS. The stress of being shipped to the UK, them popped in a shop tank, then taken out and put in a bag again and put into your tank, thatâ??s probably 3 different types of water. 1, the imported water that will be high in nitrates and probably NH3/NO2, the LFS water, parameters unknown but hopefully good, then 3, your tank water that is still cycling.

Basically, Nitrites prevent a fish from taking up oxygen as efficiently, thus you may see him breathing a little more heavily than usual, or panting/gasping. Keep a close eye on him.

I hope everything is OK and good luck.

Tom

PS. Why donâ??t you get a bottle of Nutrafin Cycle or something similar to give the filter the boost it needs.

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 15 Nov 2005, 21:15

Yes thanks i may try that. I am trying to keep a close eye on him but he is so well hidden i cant see him at the mo and dont want to scare him by making him come out. The shark is fine and i will test water each night. He looked completely scared to death when i put him in the tank so i hope that a very quiet tank (in my bedroom so very quiet all day)will settle him down. only time will tell i guess ime not gonna rush things just gonna leave it to astablish at its own time and do regular water changes until its ready. I hope thats enough for the fish if he does look distressed i may have to put him in my other tank but that may not be suitable for him realy as there is alot going on in that one...the african knife fish is a bit of a whiz him and the catfish tend to race aroung like partners in crime!!!looking for there fish to eat...may scare him to death!!!

thanks again some great advice that i have taken on board.

Dawn

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 15 Nov 2005, 21:17

these are the only two fish i wanted just now instead of buying fish i didnt want because they are hardy if you know what i mean.

I know the problem. what I usually do is buy cheap hardy fish like common plecs, and then take them back to the shop when the cycling is over. You obviously won't get back what you pay for them though.

Will the shark be able to eat a whole algae wafer? If not, feed one of these near the plecs hole after lights out.

If the shark can eat a whole wafer, maybe feed him one at one
end, and the the plec at the other.

Be very careful to siphon out any uneaten wafer in the morning though. You'll be much more likely to kill the plec by over-feeding than starving it. The plec can last over a month with no food.

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 15 Nov 2005, 21:46

Thanks i will keep that in mind if he doesnt appear at the weekend. How we worry about these little tikes sometimes.

The shark ate a full algi wafer tonight so i think he may go and eat it if i put it near the hole. Will try your idea if he doesnt appear at the weekend.

Thanks

Dawn

mitmop · Post by **mitmop** » 22 Nov 2005, 19:03

Hello well zebadee is still hiding and hasnt moved as far as i can see. I leave a low light on when i can and leave him algie wafers by his cave but havent seen him move yet. He flicks his tale now and then but thats all. I dont want to move the cave as this is his hime. Do i sit this out with him and just leave him i am even having dreams about this fish now..he must be on my mind more than i thought. oh well will keep you updated.

Dawn

Post by **Barbie** » 22 Nov 2005, 23:25

He's probably never going to take to algae wafers well. They tend to like a much more meatie diet. Try sinking wafers, shrimp pellets, or even frozen bloodworms or mysis shrimp instead.

Barbie

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 23 Nov 2005, 00:54

I think algae wafers are pretty "meaty". well the Hikari ones are at least. They're 32% protein, and their main ingredient is white fish meal.

I have an L333 that enjoys algae wafers. Although cockles and shrimp are definately prefered.

Try some of these foods if the wafers aren't tempting her.

Post by **Barbie** » 23 Nov 2005, 06:09

My L333 will eat them, but they WAY prefer the sinking wafers and carnivore pellets. If you're trying to stimulate the appetite, using food that they only tolerate isn't usually the most effective method is all I meant ;).

Barbie