Setting up a new tank.
Setting up a new tank.
Now I know that these tanks are tiny. >< But I can't get anything bigger till I move out.
I currently have a twenty gallon tank with males and female guppies in them. And I just got proof that they are old enough to, well mate and get somewhere with it. {Only one survived the weekend, I got back and noticed before the I left for school so I moved the baby into the hatchery.}
So yeah I am going to set up my old ten gallon tank in the computer room for the females and babies.
And now to the questions.
I want to move my pleco into the ten gallon, where his first home was, but I don't know if that would be cruel moving him down half a size. He is growing somewhat now but not in length, only in width {I'm so happy that he is eating properly Edit: Now the pleco isn't eating again.}.
Also, the tank will be an older one, but the gravel and anything else will be new...
{I am going to need to buy a heater and possibly a new filter because the one on it is pretty old..}
How long do I need to let the tank sit without fish? And what do I have to do during that time? I don't want to use any guppies as trial fish if I don't have to. Or course one or two will be moved in when it's ready to go, before I throw all of them in, but I don't want to use one as a tester.><
Thanks for your time.
I currently have a twenty gallon tank with males and female guppies in them. And I just got proof that they are old enough to, well mate and get somewhere with it. {Only one survived the weekend, I got back and noticed before the I left for school so I moved the baby into the hatchery.}
So yeah I am going to set up my old ten gallon tank in the computer room for the females and babies.
And now to the questions.
I want to move my pleco into the ten gallon, where his first home was, but I don't know if that would be cruel moving him down half a size. He is growing somewhat now but not in length, only in width {I'm so happy that he is eating properly Edit: Now the pleco isn't eating again.}.
Also, the tank will be an older one, but the gravel and anything else will be new...
{I am going to need to buy a heater and possibly a new filter because the one on it is pretty old..}
How long do I need to let the tank sit without fish? And what do I have to do during that time? I don't want to use any guppies as trial fish if I don't have to. Or course one or two will be moved in when it's ready to go, before I throw all of them in, but I don't want to use one as a tester.><
Thanks for your time.
Last edited by Mickey on 25 Apr 2006, 22:21, edited 2 times in total.
Yeah, a new question.
What are tiger pleco's like?
Because I am looking at putting one into my ten gallon tank.
[Mkay, this one be solved, thanks for all the help.]
What are tiger pleco's like?
Because I am looking at putting one into my ten gallon tank.
[Mkay, this one be solved, thanks for all the help.]
Last edited by Mickey on 20 Apr 2006, 13:04, edited 1 time in total.
- Iporangensis Headach
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 19 Mar 2006, 20:43
- Location 1: Manchester England
- Interests: Keeping My Fish Happy
- Contact:
What are tiger pl*co's like?

Very nice fish and i would imagin very rare!
Azz

Very nice fish and i would imagin very rare!
Azz
--------------------
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
- Iporangensis Headach
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 19 Mar 2006, 20:43
- Location 1: Manchester England
- Interests: Keeping My Fish Happy
- Contact:
$40 canadian would be like £23 pound, i bet that would be at least £130 over here, i seen peppered corys at £4.99 each!!!!!!!!! there 75p down the road
i would get it as somone is sure to snap it up and you might never see one again!
i would get it as somone is sure to snap it up and you might never see one again!
--------------------
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
- racoll
- Posts: 5258
- Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
- My articles: 6
- My images: 181
- My catfish: 2
- My cats species list: 2 (i:2, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
- Spotted: 238
- Location 1: London
- Location 2: UK
I'm afraid a 10g (or 20g for that matter) is not a home I would consider suitable to any species of Panaque.
They eat wood, and produce vast quantities of waste. They will pollute the water of that tank faster than you can say "pleco".
They need also need over-sized external power filters (very expensive) to keep the water clean.
I'm afraid there is nothing that's really suitable for that tank except bristlenoses.
Plecos aren't always the easiest of fish to keep (as you've noticed), and to achieve success with them, you need to have all the correct equipment in place BEFORE you buy the fish. It's only fair really, as these are wild fish taken from their natural home.
If I were you, I would spend the $40 on a set of boring test kits (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). They will make your fish much happier if you know how the water is doing. They will also be essential to maturing your new tank without fish, otherwise you will have to use the guppies.
Sorry to be a pain, but I have learnt from my mistakes the hard way, and I don't want others to do the same.
They eat wood, and produce vast quantities of waste. They will pollute the water of that tank faster than you can say "pleco".
They need also need over-sized external power filters (very expensive) to keep the water clean.
I'm afraid there is nothing that's really suitable for that tank except bristlenoses.
Plecos aren't always the easiest of fish to keep (as you've noticed), and to achieve success with them, you need to have all the correct equipment in place BEFORE you buy the fish. It's only fair really, as these are wild fish taken from their natural home.
If I were you, I would spend the $40 on a set of boring test kits (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate). They will make your fish much happier if you know how the water is doing. They will also be essential to maturing your new tank without fish, otherwise you will have to use the guppies.
I wouldn't count of that either. Panaque can get exteremely aggressive when mature. They also grow to over 5 inches. I would imagine they are .Two pl*co's can share a tank I am sure...
Sorry to be a pain, but I have learnt from my mistakes the hard way, and I don't want others to do the same.
at least £130 over here
Actually they're pretty common in the UK. I got some a while back for £10 each. Quite reasonable for such a lovely fish.you might never see one again!
- Iporangensis Headach
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 19 Mar 2006, 20:43
- Location 1: Manchester England
- Interests: Keeping My Fish Happy
- Contact:
Actually they're pretty common in the UK. I got some a while back for £10 each. Quite reasonable for such a lovely fish
£10
Where do i sign up? they would be perfect for my 8ft tank!!!!
Gunna run a 4ft sump, with leads of diffrent media with a Bio-Wheel as well so i will have more than enough filtration.
£10

Gunna run a 4ft sump, with leads of diffrent media with a Bio-Wheel as well so i will have more than enough filtration.
--------------------
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
Now I am way past confused.
The tank that this fish was in didn't have any wood, and it was cleaning the tank as we watched. It was also in the tank with some very annoying fish, and it didn't do anything...
And also, the woman that owns the pet store that I go to {she is not one that just wants to sell sell sell... she really cares about the animals...} she gets from a breeder... so yeah they are raised in tanks all the way through.
Also, all of those fish are a lot longer and skinnier than this one I think...
The tank that this fish was in didn't have any wood, and it was cleaning the tank as we watched. It was also in the tank with some very annoying fish, and it didn't do anything...
And also, the woman that owns the pet store that I go to {she is not one that just wants to sell sell sell... she really cares about the animals...} she gets from a breeder... so yeah they are raised in tanks all the way through.
Also, all of those fish are a lot longer and skinnier than this one I think...
- Iporangensis Headach
- Posts: 116
- Joined: 19 Mar 2006, 20:43
- Location 1: Manchester England
- Interests: Keeping My Fish Happy
- Contact:
All fish can survive in almost any tank, for a week, but if there not happy they will last no more than a few month before they give up the will to live,
The chances are that the big fish are not harassing the Pleco because you are there! watching this and they are more interested in you, but I bet when you walk away from the tank or the store is closed its a different story,
My Earth eater is as good as gold when I am there but sometimes I peak over the stairs to watch it and it's a different fish altogether, As soon as it spots me it turns into Mr Friendly,
Best to get the tank and habitat sorted and keep the fish happy.
The chances are that the big fish are not harassing the Pleco because you are there! watching this and they are more interested in you, but I bet when you walk away from the tank or the store is closed its a different story,
My Earth eater is as good as gold when I am there but sometimes I peak over the stairs to watch it and it's a different fish altogether, As soon as it spots me it turns into Mr Friendly,
Best to get the tank and habitat sorted and keep the fish happy.
--------------------
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
48"x12"x15" Tank
1x Iporangensis Earth Eater Cichlid 7.5"
1x SailFin Plec L022 8"
1x Leapard Pleco 6"
2x Tiger Clown Plecos 1"
1x Bosemani Rainbows 1"
3x Congo Tertras 3"
4x Clown loach's 4"
3x Snowflake loach 3"s
3x Spotted Catfish
- racoll
- Posts: 5258
- Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
- My articles: 6
- My images: 181
- My catfish: 2
- My cats species list: 2 (i:2, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
- Spotted: 238
- Location 1: London
- Location 2: UK
It might not be L002, just these are the most common fish offered as "tiger pleco".Also, all of those fish are a lot longer and skinnier than this one I think...
Common names are pretty meaningless, as people make up new names all the time. Common names will also vary from country to country.
Get some photos, and we can ID it for you

If it is a Panaque.....
Panaque need wood for a long and healthy life. They can live without it, but it's not ideal.The tank that this fish was in didn't have any wood, and it was cleaning the tank as we watched.
They are fine with "normal" fish, it's just plecos that they save their aggression for. They also get worse as they mature.It was also in the tank with some very annoying fish, and it didn't do anything...
Visit lots of shops, and you should find some. Most decent shops like Maidenhead Aquatics (where I got mine from) should be able to order them in for you.Where do i sign up?
They don't always look as great in the shop as they do in the pictures, but they look a lot better with clean water and lots of wood.
- racoll
- Posts: 5258
- Joined: 26 Jan 2004, 12:18
- My articles: 6
- My images: 181
- My catfish: 2
- My cats species list: 2 (i:2, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 1 (i:0)
- Spotted: 238
- Location 1: London
- Location 2: UK
Bristlenose are perfect. .
They may need a larger tank in several years, when they reach max size, but they'll be fine for ages.
Once you've bred these, and had success and experience with them, move on the exotic "pretty" wild plecos.
The problem with a lot of wild fish is that you need a bit of money behind you to support them. Most have quite specialist needs that cost money like:
Powerheads
Power filters
Air pumps
Bogwood
Testkits
Costly foods
You also need some $$$ in reserve for when things go wrong and you need an extra air pump to treat ich for example.
Bristlenose are dead easy to keep, and if you look after them properly you get babies! What could be better than that!
They may need a larger tank in several years, when they reach max size, but they'll be fine for ages.
Once you've bred these, and had success and experience with them, move on the exotic "pretty" wild plecos.
The problem with a lot of wild fish is that you need a bit of money behind you to support them. Most have quite specialist needs that cost money like:
Powerheads
Power filters
Air pumps
Bogwood
Testkits
Costly foods
You also need some $$$ in reserve for when things go wrong and you need an extra air pump to treat ich for example.
Bristlenose are dead easy to keep, and if you look after them properly you get babies! What could be better than that!
- MatsP
- Posts: 21038
- Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
- My articles: 4
- My images: 28
- My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
- My aquaria list: 12 (i:10)
- My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:164)
- Spotted: 187
- Location 1: North of Cambridge
- Location 2: England.