Feeding Acanthicus adonis

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 11:31

I've got an Acanthicus adonis is this a vegetarian or not? does he eats algae?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 17 Aug 2007, 11:39

Roel,

Have a look at:

I don't think it's a "good" algae eater like for example Ancistrus spp. They appear to eat "anything", and apparently, in the wild, they often live close to human habitations and eat waste thrown in the water by humans.

They grow LARGE and aren't the most friendly pleco either - they can be quite agressive towards other plecos, and it will outgrow just about any tank you can buy. I'm of the opinion that you should return it to where you bought it, as it's going to be much more difficult to get rid of when you can't house it anymore because it's TOO big. But that's your decision.

I split your subject out from the "poopy pleco" subject, as it's not really that closely related.

--
Mats

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 12:54

thanks for you're reaction.

Well I would like to make clear that my tank is specially for my Discusfish, with a few corry's and 2 adonisses (12 cm)

I'm sure the store won't take these fish back even though they told me it was a good algae eather and ideal to keep the glass of my tank clean.

I'm not sure what to do now, because I still don't have a algae eather in my tank. At this moment I don't like the idea of taking them away to much. The fish is realy nice and their behavior quite interesting (curious).

My tank at this moment is 1.4 x 0.6 x 0.6 meter lxhxd
and I'm saving for my mega tank 3.5 x 0.8 x 0.6 meter lxhxd

I expect te be able to buy this large tank end of 2008
(saving money each month for quite a long time now)
I hope these Adonisses can whait for 1 year.

What's you're opinion?
Other opinions are also welcome

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:09

That sounds like a nice big tank.

I have two concerns, however:
1. The tank is still not big enough for a properly grown out adult Adonis, although it's much better than a lot of people can offer.
2. Any other fish in the tank will be at the mercy of the Adonis - they are not "friendly" by any means - just look at the spiky/thorny body, and you'll realize that they can cause some real damage. Discus are both sensitive and fairly expensive fish, so not the best tankmates for rough & tough fish like the Adonis.

--
Mats

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:26

Roel, where did you get them from?

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:34

So what is the best thing now to do? I can ask the store to take them back although I have them in my house for half a year,

I can place an add on the Internet (for somebody to collect them) but I think that the chance that somebody comes a long whit better living conditions as I have now and/or have planed for them is verry small.

The fish are my responsibility now and ofcourse I can give my fish to somebody who knows less about them as I did before today but I don't want that.

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:36

I've bought them in a pett store in a place called Lichtevoorde (10km from Winterswijk) the sold them to me under the name Elfenwels (it's a German name I know now) they told me it's a nice Algae eater

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:44

I don't know what is the best thing to do. I agree that the shop probably won't give you your money back after 6 months, no matter what your complaint is - at least not unless you are a very frequent customer... And if they take them back, they will just go into someone elses too small tank.

As to advertizing them on the web (or in a paper or whatever), I agree, it will probably just end up with someone else that doesn't have sufficient room for them.

But it's also not a good compliment for discus, or most other fish. You will end up having to dedicate a large tank for a fish that doesn't get along with others, essentially.

--
Mats

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 17 Aug 2007, 13:51

What you can do do is ring the shop and explain your problem. Don't start blaming them for selling an algae eater that doesn't eat algae, but stress the point that your Discus are far too delicate to be with the adonis in the same tank. You could also suggest to swap the fish in that shop against other fish, materials, accessoires, whatever as long as you don't insist on a refund (= cash). Let them come with any cash solution, and if they don't just find out in which way they want to help you.
Good luck & keep us posted.

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 14:42

I just had a telephone conversation with the pet store, they understand my point. About that the fish they sold me as algae eater and easy fish is in fact not a fish suitable for a discus aquarium.

At first they didn't want to take the fish back but after I explained that I feld that they sold me a fish not suitable for a discus aquarium they agreed on trading them for other fish.

I want to mention that this is a good store (good relation) and I buy also my discusfish here

So next week I'm going over there with my adonisses and swop them for a nice small-L-number which eats algae, stays small and also verry important doesen't destroy my plants (sucking holes in my leaves) so much. Any sugestions?

But I still feel not quite good about this because who knows where they end u after I bring them back..

well I have an entire weekend to think it over and to observe them (I hope for a big fight between them and my discusses so that my doubt will go away)

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 17 Aug 2007, 15:39

roel jansen wrote:I hope for a big fight between them and my discusses so that my doubt will go away)

I sincerely hope not, because in that case you can swap them against new Discus.... Or were you just joking?

I think this is the best solution, so don't start getting doubts. It'll be a waste of your time and may even spoil your weekend.
Nice to see that the shop co-operates well. Probably the advantage of a regular customer

.

roel jansen · Post by **roel jansen** » 17 Aug 2007, 16:08

Yeah is was just joking,

have you got any suggestions for a new specie, like I described above (my behavior wishes for the new fish)

best regards Roel

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 17 Aug 2007, 16:21

The best small algae eaters are - but another option that (apparently) works well in Discus tanks are .

Those are genus, and as long as you are a little bit sensible, any species in the group would work almost equally well.

Ancistrus that are black with white spots are "blackwater species", which means that they live in similar waters to Discus, low pH, extremely soft water, and quite warm temperatures (although perhaps normally not AS warm as Discus).

--
Mats

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 17 Aug 2007, 19:18

roel jansen,

How about either of these species?

They look good, are happy in the discus water (provided there is enough 02), are easy to find and will take care of algae.

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 17 Aug 2007, 20:04

Ime the "Gold nugget types" will destroy plants, especially Echinodorus and Anubias....
I would like to add spp. as a possible option.

DAWN · Post by **DAWN** » 17 Aug 2007, 21:05

Hi, I'm surprised to hear this as I've got about 4 golden nuggets and they've never had a go at my plants! The ones you've got probably just got a bad attitude

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 17 Aug 2007, 21:22

DAWN wrote:Hi, I'm surprised to hear this as I've got about 4 golden nuggets and they've never had a go at my plants! The ones you've got probably just got a bad attitude

This is my experience too - and I've got some of the aforementioned plants in my tank - sadly my Goldnugget expired a couple of weeks ago due to some injuries - not sure what happened - but no plant eating on it's side.

--
Mats

Post by **Marc van Arc** » 17 Aug 2007, 21:37

Hi Dawn,
Experiences may differ (hence the ime: in my experience). A previous discussion on this matter showed that several people were surprised as well.
Perhaps mine were indeed "exceptions to the rule". The silliest thing was that it took me 7 large Echinodorus and several Anubias before I found out that it had to be the Gold nuggets

.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 18 Aug 2007, 07:48

Mine never touched the plants either, although the plants were all attached to bogwood and off the bottom away from the plecs.

The gold nugget especially may get a little large eventually for a planted discus setup, but they grow slowly and you will also have no trouble finding a new home for a 10" nugget.

If you are interested, they can be delicate on import, so only buy specimens that have been in the shop for at least a month and are eating.

soltarii007 · Post by **soltarii007** » 18 Aug 2007, 12:34

Hi roel,

A pity you couldn't keep those adonis; I can assure you that they are an amazing species. Eats anything(even wood), hyperactive, grows noticeably, and among my pl*co collection, my Albino Adonis is also one of the most prized of them all.

Even at the fastest growth rate of 2-3" your Adonis will not outgrow your tank before your new tank is in

What's more I think it'll give you lots more entertainment compared to a very shy pl*eco species that hides all day.

DAWN · Post by **DAWN** » 18 Aug 2007, 12:42

Ah, but that depends on how you place the slate/rocks! If you tilt them towards the back or at an angle, you can nearly always see them:D I see mine all the time!

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 18 Aug 2007, 15:07

soltarii007 wrote:Even at the fastest growth rate of 2-3"

just out of curiosity, 2-3 inches a year?

soltarii007 · Post by **soltarii007** » 18 Aug 2007, 19:46

Yeah I got my Adonis at 2", it's already 4" now after 4 months. There's another 8 more months to go to a year, I was being conservative.

Bas Pels · Post by **Bas Pels** » 18 Aug 2007, 23:16

that is really conservative, 2 inchet - 100 % in 4 months

You do keep them very well indeed, I think

soltarii007 · Post by **soltarii007** » 19 Aug 2007, 10:46

My measurements are in SL, of course; if you count in the typical Adonis lyretail in, it's gotta be longer than that! :D