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Author Topic: Saving for a pleco  (Read 3158 times)

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Offline stebo

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Saving for a pleco
« on: January 27, 2006, 02:28:33 PM »
I'm saving for a pleco (as you can tell from my thread name) they're $33 AUD and they're about....(damn it, wheres my ruler)....they're about 5cm long. It will be going in my 55gal african tank along with my;

Cobalt Blue Zebra
Electric Yellow Labs 2x
Red Top Hongi
Acii
Mbenji (thats what my LFS said it is, but i can't tell the difference between them and the borleyis)
and my newest recruit, a beautiful male marble peacock with nice blue colours on his fins.

I was just wondering if theres anything important i should know about these awesome catfish, any handy hints or tips. thanks in advanced

stebo

P.S i'll have no problem trading it back when it gets too big (i'm looking forward to the store credit lol)
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Offline Gerry

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2006, 02:37:13 PM »
Quote from: stebo on January 27, 2006, 02:28:33 PM
I'm saving for a pleco (as you can tell from my thread name) they're $33 AUD and they're about....(damn it, wheres my ruler)....they're about 5cm long. It will be going in my 55gal african tank along with my;


I was just wondering if theres anything important i should know about these awesome catfish, any handy hints or tips. thanks in advanced

stebo

P.S i'll have no problem trading it back when it gets too big (i'm looking forward to the store credit lol)

The type of pleco would be a help as to handy hints about it.
 If your going to get a fish, why not get one that you can keep for its whole life rather than trust to a LFS taking it back.
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2006, 03:00:19 PM »
The pleco i'm planning on getting is a Gibycep (aka sailfin pleco).

[/quote]
If your going to get a fish, why not get one that you can keep for its whole life rather than trust to a LFS taking it back.
[/quote]

I really want a pleco and i don't mind if i have to take it back in a few months because one, they're worth alot down here at a reseanable size and 2, and can get a smaller one straight away with the store credit. i've always wanted one and i know i don't have the space for a huge one so i made i deal with my LFS to grow one for them.

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Offline Gerry

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2006, 03:05:49 PM »
That sounds like a plan O0

All you really need to know then is, they get quite big (24" I think) and poop a lot, best with a bit of driftwood in too as some need it for digestion.
Hope that helps a little. O0
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Offline Frank

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2006, 04:55:17 PM »
The sailfin pleco is nice...kinda brownish with some red highlights to the fin edges.  Not sure about their growth rate but they don't grow that quickly.  You ought to be able to keep it a while.  Read up on the sailfin....some plecos need wood in their diet, some need meat as well, like worms....some like pieces of zuccini.  You can give them the hikari algae wafers.  I have a bushy nose pleco...I have no idea what he eats.  He doesn't do much for the algae.  But he gets along okay, I've had him over 4 years now and he's still only about 4 inches.  All plecos are attractive fish, even the common ones.  Too bad they are so expensive in Aus....I got my bushy at my fish club for a dollar!
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2006, 05:01:16 PM »
i'm pretty sure the bushy nose pleco is the same as a bristle nose pleco and they don't grow very big at all, thats why they're so cheap and popular. they sell small bristle nose pleco's here for 3 bucks each. and the larger ones are 8.

I read that the sailfin pleco prefers ph from 6.8-7.5, my tank is african so the ph is a little higher, around 7.8-8.0. would he be ok in there, will he adjust to the higher ph?
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Offline tracey

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #6 on: January 27, 2006, 07:15:23 PM »
Gibby's are pretty much indestructible, so water parameters aren't gonna be too much of a concern.  The biggest thing with these guys is that they are NOT algae eaters.  They are onmivores that require a diet that contains a good percentage of protein, similar to what you'd feed cichlids.  They're territorial and hardy, so they'll do fine with your Africans.  My Albino Gibby grew up with my Malawi's and he had no problems what-so-ever with their aggressive nature.  They don't grow anything like cichlids, but they're not exactly sluggish either.  You'd probably be looking at being able to keep him for a year or so, before he gets too big for your tank.
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #7 on: January 27, 2006, 07:37:18 PM »
are you sure they aren't algea eaters, i'm not doubting you i just really hope they are cause thats why i want one. damn it lol
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Offline Dan

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #8 on: January 27, 2006, 08:05:06 PM »
Quote from: stebo on January 27, 2006, 07:37:18 PM
are you sure they aren't algea eaters, i'm not doubting you i just really hope they are cause thats why i want one. damn it lol
Trust me Stebo, if anyone knows it`s Tracey. O0

To back up what she is saying,  I also have 1 in my tank and he has the same exact eating habits. He`s already 9 inches, so they do get big. Mine eats very well actually. Good luck. O0
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #9 on: January 27, 2006, 08:11:07 PM »
What do you feed your 9" pleco dan? and what did you feed it when it was smaller? can you feed them peas?
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Offline tracey

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2006, 08:37:58 PM »
They will eat veggies, my Albino is quite a zuchini fan, but they also need protein.  Mine also likes pellets designed for predatory catfish and is also quite a fan of the Beefheart Recipe. 

If you're after an algae eater, then you'd be better to go with a few Bristlenose's or some other algae eater. 
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #11 on: January 27, 2006, 08:40:48 PM »
i can always get bristle nose pl*cos in the near future, but for now, i would like a different, more exotic fish in my tank other then just cichlids, so i think i'll go with the sailfin pleco. and get some bristle nose later on. thanks for your help.
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Offline Maddy mad man

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #12 on: January 27, 2006, 10:53:14 PM »
I have a sailfin - eats anything and loves meat.
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Offline Luke

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #13 on: January 28, 2006, 04:10:03 AM »
really? every where ive been reading says they love algae
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Offline stebo

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Re: Saving for a pleco
« Reply #14 on: January 28, 2006, 12:50:35 PM »
Quote from: Luke on January 28, 2006, 04:10:03 AM
really? every where ive been reading says they love algae

yer thats what i thought, but i can kinda see why now, they don't exactly have the mouth for it, am i right tracey?

P.S Luke your signature needs a bit of a spell check, "tony is a geat dude?" i agree
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