"taming" pleco?

[sillypony]

Hello!

Since I'm on here, bothering y'all with questions, i thought i'd ask about my L75. Its a silly question, but im asking it nonetheless

She.. or with my track record.. he? IDK. Anyways, Bibi has been in the tank since... november? Was absolutely TINY when I got him, 1.5" tops. Bibi is more than twice that size now, but just as skittish and terrified as ever.

Habib, the L264, doesn't appreciate my intrusions into the tank, but if i should need to catch her, she will sit in my hand more or less docilely for pics, or to check on her.

Bibi, the L75, on the other hand, I truly worry about when I need to catch her. Obviously this is very rare (all of twice, once ofr a tank change, and once to compare to the L264, since I got him), but I hate stressing him. He flips out, and goes up and down the tank, and even once caught, doesn't calm down. Also problematic, is when i try to feed frozen food, etc, he flips out and by the time he gets over my hand placing it in front of his cave, the food is half eaten by everyone else.

Is there anything I can do to convince Bibi I'm not a predator or trying to eat him or anything?

Thanks!

LeeAnna

[MatsP]

I think you have to accept that different fish have different temperament - both between different individuals, species and genus.

Giving the fish a GOOD set of hiding places will help, but ultimately, just like some humans will jump up on any stage available to start monkeying about, whilst others will sit quietly in a corner trying to avoid contact with others, one fish may be very forthcoming, another less so.

--
Mats

[Richard B]

Mats is quite correct - different species of pl*co behave differently & even individuals of the same species can be the complete opposite of one another.

Given good water, food, space & plenty of refuges, over time a fish will relax more but it does take time & the level of a fishes ability to do what the keeper wants is sometimes not a possibility - like those people who want to see their nocturnal, inactive cat, swim back & forth all day feed out in the open etc - it is not in the nature of some fishes ( hope this doesn't sound like i'm being critical - it is a general observation about some fishkeepers as a whole)

On the other hand a RTC might become hand tame which it would never do in the wild

[pLaurent1251]

Given good water, food, space & plenty of refuges, over time a fish will relax more but it does take time & the level of a fishes ability to do what the keeper wants is sometimes not a possibility - like those people who want to see their nocturnal, inactive cat, swim back & forth all day feed out in the open etc - it is not in the nature of some fishes ( hope this doesn't sound like i'm being critical - it is a general observation about some fishkeepers as a whole)

Sounds right to me! I'm still learning, but my two little plecos were very frightened and shy at first, but with lots of room ,hiding places, good food, driftwood and plants, they've become more outgoing in the last few months and I see them nearly all the time. One of them, the albino, is often out in the open when the lights are on and has litle fear even of my hands.

We must appreciate our pets for what they are and not for what we want them to be. I suggest that if someone wants a fish that's interactive and tame, try a large cichlid or a betta.

[sillypony]

Thanks all, i kinda half figured that's the answer.

Don't really mind that he's not 'tame,' I just felt bad after I had to chase him forEVER the other day to catch him. Poor guy was terrified.


LeeAnna