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just bought 6 Peckoltia sp. (L205) for $23 (Singapore dollars) each.
as they are only 6cm in size, i could not determine the sex of the plecos. so i bought all of them. the size of their home is about 145 litres with lots of drift wood and lava rocks. i even install a eheim powerhead to create a current in the tank. the rest of the occupants include 1 royal pleco (6cm) and 2 asp silver fish. can anyone give me some advice on what i should do next? thanks.

Hi!
Well so far you did pretty good! Let them settle in first and maybe let them putting some more cms before attempting to breed them...
Make sure they each have their own little territory and cave.
As it belongs to Peckoltia, make sure to feed them some spirulina tabs and vegetables!
Hope it help!
Cheers
Yann

i'm only giving them algae wafer daily. are they solely vegetarian? do i need to boil the vegetable before dropping it into the tank?

Hi!
No you can feed them once in a while some bloodworms, gammarus.
Add some driftwood in your tank as well!
Cheers
Yann

thanks for the advice. keep u guys update on the latest progress.

Hi!
Sure it wil be a pleasure to read yo on what is going on with your fish!!!
Enjoy them!!!
Cheers
Yann

hi caril, you have PM.

should i add a few more plecos of other species in the tank? cos i saw some new beautiful plecos from the pet store and i'm tempted to get some.
any advise???

Hi!
Well I would not do it!
The L205 will grow around 15cm long and the Panaque sp will become even bigger and probably out grow the tank!
Plus you will face territorial problem and fight might occur which can lead to injuries plus disease as it is a source of stress.
It will be wiser than in a few months to move the Panaque sp in a bigger tank, then I think you could eventually add a trio of a dwarf species but nothing more!
Cheers
Yann

thanks for the advice. maybe i should wait for a few more months to monitor the progress first.

by the way, what are the dwarf species u mentioned?

Hi!
Some Ancistrus spp Hypancistrus spp Panaqolus spp, most of them stay around 10cm, still some Ancistrus spp achieve length around 15-20cm. Hypancistrus sp L102 achieve that length as well and Panaqolus spp do not grow over 15cm.
Otherwise you can add a small group of Otocinlus spp or Parotocinclus spp or Hypoptoma spp
Hope it help!
Cheers
Yann

the plecos are doing fine. whenever i drop a piece of algae wafer into the tank, they emerge from their hideout almost immediately. its fun watching them pushing one another for a bite of the wafer.

They do need to grow some more, and a varied diet, not just veggies, would probably help.

i feed them frozen bloodworms as well and they seem to like it.
hopefully they will be ready to breed in a couple of months time...

Hi caril! When can we pay each other a visit??

hi,
busy now cos school starts oredi.
maybe during weekends.
i sms u again.
by the way, i just bought a common bistlenose for $30.
what do u think?

Ok, just call me when you free!

The bristlenose I've seen at other places is around $25-$35 range, but all so small. I looking for one with super long whistles!!

keep me update if u run into any good LFS...

my L205s have just recovered from whitespots and they have grown to around 8cm each.
am i able to sex them now??? what should i look out for???

Hi!

Good to hear they are fine but i really doubt that you want to tell us that they grew 2 cm in 20 days...

Hi!

Well!
Good to hear that they have fully recovered, see when you stick to what has been written on notice, usually it work!
Well L205 is believe to belong to the genus Peckoltia, male developp odontodes in the second end part of the body, pretty close of the tail. They are rather big and also present on the hard ray of the caudal fin!

Males have also odontodes that are longer on the hard ray of the pectoral fins. Interopercular odontodes are also longer.the head of the male should be slightly bigger than the one of the female!

female look rounder in the ventral region when look from above!

Cheers
Yann

thanks for the info guys...