Royal Pleco...

polypterus · Post by **polypterus** » 19 Aug 2006, 05:13

I just got this pleco as a gift from a friend. He is a very cute little fish! Looks like he is wearing a pin striped suit. I want to be sure I am doing all I can for his health and happiness. Any advice from people who have kept one? He is in a 55 with four angels and a polypterus. Temp is 79 and pH is 7.6. I try to give him algae tablets but the poly seems to eat them first! I do have some real driftwood for him. I give him zuchinni occasionally but he only eats the skin... should it really be every day? He doesn't seem to go after any dry foods.. And he doesn't do much for algae control...

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Aug 2006, 10:30

Start by reading .

You do need some wood in the tank, and you can otherwise feed it according to a "herbivore" - it needs plenty of vegetables.

And it will eventually need a bigger tank - once it reaches around 7 inches, the current tank is too small. And it will reach around 18 inches if you keep it fed properly and keep the water clean - that's goingt to be one of the big challenges, as these are pretty messy fish...

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Mats

polypterus · Post by **polypterus** » 22 Aug 2006, 12:37

Thanks for the info. You are so right about this being a messy fish! I have def noticed a difference when I vacuum out my tank! His cave area is always filthy. I do vacuum it at least once a week though, so my nitrates remain low. I wasn't aware he would get so big. The page you had linked said only 13"? I have a 90 gallon he could go into once he is bigger though. I've got my feelers out for a used 180+, but I am waiting until I find one cheap, I can't afford a new tank. What is their growth rate like? Mine is only about 3" currently. How often should I feed him zuchinni skin? Every day? I never see him eat any of the tablets I put in at night but he is also very shy...

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 22 Aug 2006, 13:06

I would keep a constant supply of some vegetable/fruit food - there are several different things that work really well, see the article listed in the bottom edge of my post.

I think they _DO_ grow a bit bigger than 13", but even that size requires a tank that is at least two feet on the short sides and four feet long according to the 4L x 2L x 2L sizing guideline. That's not huge in gallons, but unfortunately, big tanks are generally longer and narrower rather than those rather short and wide measurements [because most people tend to want a tank that sits along the wall without sticking out too much...

You'll be happy to know that they grow slowly - it's hard to put a number to it [particularly as I don't actually have one myself], but I doubt that it will outgrow the current tank for at least a year or two. Keeping the water clean and well oxygenated will allow it to grow quicker...

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Mats

polypterus · Post by **polypterus** » 22 Aug 2006, 18:37

I just read your article, it was great. Thanks for all the help. My 90 gallon is actually designed more with fish in mind then people. it is 4' by 3' by 2' I believe? It was a free tank so I am not even 100% sure it is a 90 gal, but it is at least that.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 22 Aug 2006, 18:40

If it's 4 x 3 base area, then it's really a nice tank for catfish. And 4 x 2 x 2 is 120 US gallon, so 4 x 3 x 2 is would make about 180 gallons [I think - I could have got it wrong...]

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Mats