New accidental owner needs urgent help.

[Violence]

Hi everyone, my name is Veronika, I'm from Montreal, Canada and I'm VERY new to catfish and fish in general and I really need your help.

I might be in trouble with my Pleco's. What hapenned was I bought a Betta about a month ago and they gave me tiny tank (1.5 gallon I think) and I decided to move him into my 10 gallon aquarium. When I did, I realised he has a LOT of space in there and it would be a good idea to get another fish. Basically what hapenned, one of my "friends" friend had three Pleco's, he wanted to flush them away or just throw them out of the window (he was serious). I decided to take them in. The problem is I only have a 10 gallon tank. I put in more hiding spots (I will be adding some plants in the next few days) and the tank does NOT have a filter. Pleco's create a LOT of waste so I have to change the water manually once/twice a day. The guy told me they will not grow too big and the 10 gallon is enough. HE LIED! They will get like 1-2 feet long, this is HUGE! For now they mesure about three inches and are Okay in the thank. But they WILL outgrow it, right? What hapens then? The only think I could get is a 30 gallon tank MAX. Not because of money, but space.

One of them is a Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus
The other one is a Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps
And the last one is a Albino Pterygoplichthys pardalis

And they're all 3inches long/ 5cm long... Give or take.


PS this is a very small tank I put them in while doing the water changes.

And they're all 3inches long/ 5cm long... Give or take.

I have three cats (one I took in after a bastard threw him out of his house), a Bearded Dragon (huuuge cage), a rat (also in a very big cage) and now I have three Pleco's and Betta. I live in an one bedroom appartment and it's a zoo! My room is full. I know they will need a HUGE tank eventually, what will hapen then? I called a few pet shops and they won't take them in, I called Shelters, they told me to FLUSH them or THROW or EAT them when they outgrow the tank. This is insane, I'm stuck with them. I would love to release them into nature, but I live in Canada and the waters are cold. I could drive to Florida or something (of course get them checked out by vets to see if I can put them back into nature) but this option is almost impossible. I'm worried all the time plus I'm starting ot be attached to them. One even chills on my hand!

I will get a filter for this tank tomorrow and i will get a bigger tank (hopefully 30 gallons) in the next days/week. When I get the filter for the 10 gallon, which one should I buy?

Are they OK in the 10 gallon tank for now?

How long will it take before they outgrow the 10 gallon tank?

And after that, how long before they outgrow the 30 gallon tank?

When they do what hapens?

What other gear could I get before I buy the 30 gallon AND when I buy it?

When I throw in the frozen Brime-fish, do they eat it (or any other food)? (I mean, are they stupid or know where to find the food?)

Same thing with the tablets, will they "find" them?

Is there something I HAVE to know about them? I did research about the food, the temp and so on. But maybe I missed something.

I did research about the food, the temp and so on. But maybe I missed something.

Could I make my own tank? (Like this it would mesure EXACTLY what I need it to so it will be able to fit somewhere. Get glass and pure silicone glue...)

I'm VERY worried about them. They're *very* active, eat a lot, get along great with the Betta, they're fins are healthy, they seem more than happy. I feed them blood worms, frozen Brime-Shrimp, Spirulina Algae tablets, fresh veggies (cucumber, a tiny bit of carrots, Zuccini, a little bit of salad). I don't even smoke inside the house not to polute my animals. I do love them and want them to be happy and healthy, and I want to a be a good responsible owner for them. I have TONS of hiding spots in there also. Adding nutrients and bacteria to the water, fin "protector"... But as I said, I'm super worried.

Here are some picture of my tank;










For more pictures feel free to go directly into my photo album. http://s156.photobucket.com/albums/t17/ ... My%20fish/

[MatsP]

All species of

Pterygoplichthys

grow to at least one foot (30cm), and you'll need a tank in the order of 75-120g to keep them. You can obviously keep them for a while longer if they are currently in the 3"/7.5cm size-range. Most shops will take back larger plecos, particularly half-grown ones, as they are still attractive to people who have big tanks with larger fish in them.

I'm a bit confused about the statement of "It's just a small tank I keep it in when doing water changes" - are you taking the fish out when you change the water? If so, I'm wondering if you have the understanding of water changing correct - you are not supposed to change ALL the water, just a bit - like one quarter to half the tanks volume. Using a gravel vac (a piece of hose connected to a plastic pipe which you stick into the gravel to suck up collected dirt) is a good way to reduce the muck in the tank, but the main purpose of water changing is to remove the accumulated stuff that is in the water itself.

Changing ALL the water at once will generally lead to too much/sudden changes for the fishes, and it's best not to do that.

--
Mats

[Violence]

I change almost all the water, but I take them out because there's a lot of "movement" in the tank. (By almost I mean I leave about 1/4 of the water) and I take the gravel out (manually) and rince it. When I first got them, I changed the water (completely and bought new gravel) a few days before I actually got them. I'm doing the best I can, I have no equipment yet and I didn't want the guy to kill them.

I did call a lot of places (like half of the phone book listings, that's a lot of shops for Montreal!) and none of them wants them, now or when they get bigger. This is why I'm pretty much stuck. I get replies like "just eat it, they're delicious" or "flush them, well if they're too big just put them in the garbage" from pet stores AND shelters. Not all of them but I got that response from the shelters and a few animal stores, and the "fish" stores don't want them/don't have enough space. I'll call more shops tomorrow.

How long before they outgrow the 10 gallon?

And how long would it take for them to outgrow the 30 gallon?

I live in a BIG one bedroom appartment, but as i said, it's already a zoo and I have barely any place left. is making your own aquarium a good idea? Or gettong one made custom? (So I could have a perfect fit where I have space to put it).

[MatsP]

They grow pretty quickly - it's quite likely that they will outgrow a 30g tank within a year from now, perhaps less, assuming you keep them well fed in clean water [and it would be cruel not to] . I'm surprised no shop wants them. Have you tried the actual shop that sold them to you?

As to water changing and tank cleaning:
1. Do not clean the gravel with tap-water (except when setting up a new tank). It ruins the good bacteria living in there - and they take the toxic stuff the fish produce and turn it into less toxic stuff.
2. Do not change more than half the water at any time.
3. Do not catch fish unless you have a very good reason - it seriously stresses the fish.

--
Mats

[Violence]

Thank you! (Is distilled water good? I got tons of those, for autoclave/ultra sonic, well sterilization tools and all that. Or mineral water?). I just dumped some of the gravel in a huge container with distilled water and rinsed it. Anyways, I'll buy the vaccum thing and a filter in the next 1-2 days and I'll keep calling the pet shops to see if I can find one who would take them when they outgrow the tank. If not I'll buy a 30 gallon and see what hapens then...

I fell in love with Pleco's, do you know if there's any that won't grow to big (maybe 10cm Max. I would eventually like to get somewhat of a bigger thank)?

I'll move stuff around to see if I can fit a 100g tank somewhere. I wonder if I could get one built into my walls.

Thanks again for your help! And I don't want to be cruel towards them, that's the reason I took them in in the first place. Throwing them out of a 5th floor window is cruel, I'm really doing my best here.

[Violence]

Ohhh! And also, when I put back some water in the tank (after changing it) won't that stress the fish also? I was affraid of them so I took them out.

[MatsP]

Ohhh! And also, when I put back some water in the tank (after changing it) won't that stress the fish also? I was affraid of them so I took them out.

You mean filling the tank back up - not if the water is reasonably similar to the water they are in, for example you should make sure it's close to the same temperature.

When I fill my tank up, the fish will actually seek out the water-flow filling up the tank and swim in that area.

--
Mats

[NewFishKeeper]

Water changes wont stress the fish out too much, they may hide away while you are doing it, but thats fine.

Like Mats said dont change too much water as it effects the biological stuff (very technical term there! ) already built up in the tank.

grab yourself a filter and youll be fine for now, i know its worrying but your doing fine

[Violence]

Thank you, I'm really reassured. I make sure the water is the SAME temp. I used like "bottled" mineral water to fill it up with. It wasn't cooled down (in storage) so the temp. was the same as the one in the tank (same temp everywhere) and the temp. RIGHT NOW is perfect! Oh and not like 1 littre bottles, but the huge and heavy ones. And distilled water to rinse out the gravel so no evil bacteria will eat my fish.

I didn't want them to be swirling all over the place and "loosing" control while I was filling up the tank. I won't be taking them out anymore except if I have to!

I hope I'll find a home for them, I'll buy a 30 gallon anyways, I love fish (newly discovered passion) and I'll add them to it until I find a home, and when I do, I'll put a L136b (looks liek a Snowball Pleco but smaller, they grow 10cm MAX.) and a few Norman's Lampeye's and Spotted Furcata's!

Thank you again for the help! I'm so relieved (I was having a nervous break down here, I'm not evenn joking) my mother had to rescue, she had *some* experience with fish, but far from being a pro. She was with a friend when I called her hysterically "MY FISH ARE DISTRESSED" Her:"What fish?!"... Her to her friend; "I gotta go, my ADULT daugther is hysterical about fish in distress". She wasn't much help though.

[Bigpig]

Hiya,
Well done on saving these fish.
You should try to disturb the fish as little as possible when changing the water. Do not take them out of the tank everytime.
There is no need to remove the gravel to rinse it.
The gravel vac is a good idea.
I would recommend that you get the filter installed asap. This will make life much easier for you.
Also try to get a filter that is designed for a bigger tank than you have, as this will keep the water cleaner, cut down on how often you are changing water (this should be about once a week), and the catfish will like the flow. (not sure about the Betta).
If you do decide to keep them, get the biggest tank that you can now, rather than a series of increasingly bigger tanks that you trade up. It will be cheaper just to go big.

I expect that this all seems difficult now, but it becomes easier once you suss it out. You can always ask questions on here until you are up to speed.
Good luck.

[Violence]

Thanks for the reply!

I will see if I could arrange a built-in wall aquarium. The space is a problem. (I got about 1500 SQ. Feet in a one bedroom appartment) I have a *about* 200 gallon glass cage for my Bearded Dragon, a cage about the same size for my Degu in my room, plus a T.V, a bed, computer desk, computer, scanner/printer/photocopier, "piericng" area, autoclave/ultrasonic/dry heat oven, two chairs, two cabinets for piercing tools and jewelry AND the aquarium and the stand. In the living room I have seven old trunks (old school/antique style), a table, sofa, T.V, T.V stand, two chairs, a full-wall bookcase, and huge speakers. And int he kitchen I got counter, table, three chairs, a desk with a computer, a washer, a dryer, over-sized fridge. And the bathroom there's my cats "beds", liter box and that's about all that fits in there. So my place is STACKED, I could maybe fit a regular 30 gallon and put the Pleco's in there until I find a better home, or get a built-in wall aquarium (this is money, time and renovations and a lot of hassle).

The more I think about it, the more I realize that I really need to get rid of the Pleco's unfortunetly, I fell in love with them. I will post in the "buy/sell" Forum. When I find a home for them I will get more fish to "replace" them, (as I mentionned, L136b Pleco ressembling a Snowball Pleco not exiding 10 cm, Norman's Lampeye's and Spotted Furcata's). This is the best I can do. I will get a vaccum and a filter tomorrow which will help me a lot. My back is killing me because of the water transport and all!

[MatsP]

You may want to, especially, when you get a bigger tank, stop using bottled mineral water, and start using tap-water with a good quality water conditioner (I use Stress Coat). It would save you A LOT of money in the long term.

As to space and room, perhaps you can build a rack where your 200g terrarium can go on top of a fish-tank?

--
Mats

[racoll]

A lot of questions here!

Sorry I can't answer all of them.

You really must get rid of the plecos to either a shop or another fishkeeper. The more they grow, the more they will pollute their own water and kill everything in the tank, especially in a tank with no filter.

You should always have a filter in a tank. The bacteria in the filter remove all the ammonia that the fish produce. Ammonia is very poisonous to fish.

Don't be offended, but I would strongly advise not getting a L-number/fancy pleco. These are wild caught and incredibly demanding of specific diet and water parameters. I'm not sure you are experienced enough to provide this. The number that die due to poor care does not bear thinking about.

A common bristlenose pleco (

Ancistrus sp(3)

) will be perfect. They are tank-bred, easy to keep and so used to life in an aquarium. They will not grow big, especially if you get a female.

Also, you have way too much gravel in there. You should only have 2cm max. A thick layer of gravel traps dirt, harbours bad bacteria, and is a problem to clean.

All you need to do every week is remove 25% of the water and vacuum the gravel. Do not remove the fish. Top up the tank with dechlorinated tapwater of roughly the same temperature.

I can't see heater in your photos. Bear in mind that bettas need pretty warm warm water to thrive (27C+). Colder water makes them susceptible to disease.

I hope this is constructive for you. Please read these articles on basic fishkeeping and keeping common plecos.

[Violence]

It's hot here, it's REALLY hot here. I have the air conditionning on, it's less hot and humid, the fish are far away from it and the temp is PERFECT! (YEY!)- The "central" heating in my appartment is made to heat up to 24-28, if not the air conditionner kicks in (depends how you set them). But the ambiant air varies a bit but the temp is perfect right now since I got the Pleco's.

I'm getting a filter and vaccum tomorrow. Changing the water manually is HELL.

I'll get a 30 gallon in the next week. OR I will make my own custom tank (probably even bigger than 30g, and custom will fit PERFECTLY). Either way I'm getitng a bigger tank to be able to have more fish eventually when I will give the Pleco's away. Meanwhile, I will be looking for potential adoptive parents, as you probably read, I wasn't lucky and I don't want to give to away to just anyone. (I'm currently posting in the "for sale" forum; http://planetcatfish.com/forum/viewtopi ... 23&t=23558 ). I will keep them as long as i can and I would be very happy to find a perfect home for them. A home where they won't be flushed, thrown out of the window or eaten.

Thanks on the tips about the gravel, I had no idea, I though 3cm was enough (although it's really hard to get it equal, you can see on th epictures some palces have 2cm of gravel the others have like 3.5cm, I just mesured). I Over fed them so this is why I thought a cleaning and rinsing would be appropriate (I double fed them I think) so it got pretty muddy and yucky.

Also thank you for the tip about my future fish! I liked it because it was relatively small and it had dots! So pretty!

*Reading the articles you gave me*

I'm sure that with the proper equipment I would of been able to keep them ,usually this info I would of known about before buying during my research into it, but I didn't have time. I will be upgrading equipments and so on. (I think I'll just get a 30 gallon and filters/vaccum...).

I do have general knowledge about fish keeping. I did have many when I was younger, and it's my mothers choice "pet". I based a lot of my information from a few pet shops I called (those who didn't suggests I EAT or KILL the fish). They are not experienced enough and a lot of stuff they said was crap, luckily I have common sense, which is good! One pet shop even said, and I quote "Ohhh it's alright to keep in a 10 gallon, they won't grow, they're like gold fish, goldfish SHOULD be kept in smaller bowls *no explenation to why* and they won't grow bigger, same thing with ANY catfish AND bottom-eaters." They also consider Pleco's as "secondary" fish, like they don't matter and they're just there to "clean" algae, which pissed me off a bit.

In the last days I gained a lot of informaiton regarding Pleco's. I know I would be able to keep a "harder to handle" fish, although I don't think I would have enough time to invest into it. This site helped me a lot. Usually I do a LOT of research before buying any animal, but this time it was impossible, so I've been struggeling a bit. Being up at nights to research (it's 7:30 am here) because during the day I have limited time. I can't have fish that will require *constant* care either, I'm pretty busy and don't have much free time. So I will make a well informed choice about the next "catfish" I will get (the one that looks like a Snowball Pleco but not to hard to keep). I also bought some hummm water nutrients/bacteria? It's like a thicker liquid, you put a tiny bit of it in the gravel after a full change, you mix it with the gravel then will with water and wait a day and then the fish are good to go. There's no name on the package or anything (I have tendencies to take off the wrap on bottles beer bottles/jars... Some nervous tic.) I have no idea if someone knows what I'm talking about!

Thank you so much for those pointers! Thanks to all of you!

[racoll]

the temp is PERFECT!

You don't say what the temperature actually is in the tank. Regardless of central heating and A/C, an aquarium heater is an essential piece of equipment in maintaining a stable environment for your fish.

[Violence]

I have two thermometers! But I can't leave them at all times in the tank. Now the temps is inside is 27. It's warmer in the tank than in the room. It's been stable ( varies form 26.7 to 27.8 ) since I put the Betta inside. Montreal gets HAWT in summer.

I'm able to keep a healthy Bearded Dragon (those are VERY complicated, more complicated than they tell you in the pet shop). I take extra care with my animals. But as I said, without the right equipment, some things are hard to do. I would of done research before hand, and I would of known all this since the start. But I couldn't, their lives were on the line, and they're sooo adorable, I couldn;t of let them die!

I also kept four pirahna's, FOUR, until I found a home for them three weeks later (some idiot wanted to starve them and "death match" them...) Those are hard to keep. I'm just amazed at the stupidity of people. You should have a minimum I.Q to be able to care for animals (and children).

Animals should be sold to select people. So many of them die every day because of the poor care and cruelty.

EDIT: Crappy smiley appeared.

[Lesley_B]

Hi

I live in the UK and used to live in a flat where I had to cool the water down in the tank. I used frozen bottles of water double bagged with some tank water in between so the fish couldn't get to the ice itself.
It helped some but I did also keep a heater plugged in and set because fish can be very sensitive to temperature changes and while the flat may be hot during the day there may be temp fluctuations at night.

You might want to consider an air pump and stone if your tank runs hot. There'll be less oxygen in the water at higher temps.

You do need to have a filter in the tank too. In my 10 gallon I had a Fluval 2+ as well as the standard Juwel filter box.

I took on a pterygoplickthis pardalis from someone and had quite a few problems when he started getting to large for the 10g.
I've just managed to afford a 30g tank but have decided, while I like the 30g, that I can't cope with a fish that will eventually reach 16" or so.
He was hard enough for me to catch when I moved him into the new tank and he is only half grown.
At the size you have them at the moment they are sweet, easy to catch and they are lovely fish to own but they need a large tank space.
If you really must keep one, then you have to provide it with space so it can have its habitat as well as room to move.

Good luck with rehoming.

Regards

Lesley

[Violence]

Good news, I just might be able to get a 50gallon! I also called a specialized pet-store (www.aquariusweb.qc.ca they're awesome!) and they told me they would be able to take them when they outgrow the tanks. I will fit a 50 gallon, then see how much they grow, I probably will be able to keep just one. So for now they will have a great home until they get super big, and after that, they will have another good home where they won't be eaten, or killed!

This makes me super happy! Thank you for all your help!

[pLaurent1251]

I"m in Montreal too, and just want to pass this on:

For aquarium equipment, food etc. you might want to order from Mail Order Pet Supplies in ON. If you buy a few items, even with shipping costs, their products will cost less than if you buy them at any petstore around here.

http://www.mops.ca/

As you've seen, no petstore employees around here know anything at all about fish, and will tell you what they think you want to hear in order to get your money. The exception is Big Al's, where at least one person has a clue. I got both my BN plecos there, and they did know how big they get.

[Violence]

At Aquarius they were very good also. He really knew what he was talking about and also told me that I could bring them there when they start outgrowing my tanks. They have a LOT of selection, they're super nice and experienced, they only deal with "tropical" fish.

I'll get eight Spotted Furcata's, two Platinum Angelfish, one H. Inspector and I will add my Pleco's in there. One of the Pleco's is known to grow fast and huge, one of them grows slower and is supose to be a bit smaller and the third one grows very slow and is the smallest of the three, so it would be possible that I would be able to keep maybe one or two of them. I'll get the tank, a heavy-duty filter (for a 100 gallon tank), a heater (although I doubt it will be needed), a vaccum, more hiding spaces, some plants, a lamp, test kit, bubbler thing, wood...

If you personally would liek to have any of my Pleco's I would give them to you!

[racoll]

one H. Inspector and I will add my pl*co's in there.

I will very much try to persuade you not to purchase a fancy pleco. A Hypancistrus will not stand a chance with three Pterygoplichthys. Your current three plecos will be more than enough in this size tank.

Hypancistrus although very pretty, are small and incredibly nocturnal; they will not be able to get enough food with three greedy Pterygoplichthys in the same tank.

They are also wild-caught, and as you say, the pet stores around haven't a clue, so the fish will not have been acclimated correctly before sale. They will just be sat in the store slowly dying. I have only ever been to one shop where the plecos are treated correctly before sale.

Sometimes I really wonder if people should be trusted to keep wild fish. Thousands and thousands of plecos are exported each year from Brazil, Peru and Colombia. These are not for new aquariums - they are to replace dead plecos.

From what I have seen (in moderate to good LFS's!), I would imagine 50% of these die in the store, and then a further 40% die in people's tanks in the month or so after import, so only 10% may actually survive a year or so in captivity.

Just look at the number of "help my new pleco is dead/dying" threads if you need proof.

I don't wish to sound discouraging, but please don't buy wild fish unless you are able to provide them conditions in which they will thrive.

[pLaurent1251]

'll get eight Spotted Furcata's, two Platinum Angelfish, one H. Inspector and I will add my pl*co's in there. One of the pl*co's is known to grow fast and huge, one of them grows slower and is supose to be a bit smaller and the third one grows very slow and is the smallest of the three, so it would be possible that I would be able to keep maybe one or two of them. I'll get the tank, a heavy-duty filter (for a 100 gallon tank), a heater (although I doubt it will be needed), a vaccum, more hiding spaces, some plants, a lamp, test kit, bubbler thing, wood...

If you personally would liek to have any of my pl*co's I would give them to you!

I would love to have one, if only I had a big enough tank! Thanks anyway!

What exactly are Spotted Furcatas? Do you mean pseudomugils? Have you kept angels before? It's risky getting two, plus baby angels need to go into established, stable tanks with great water conditions since they're very sensitive.

This tank will be 50 gals? I was unable to keep just two small bristlenoses in a 20 gal, due to one picking on the other and depriving it of food.

I urge you to take the pleco advice given here. I was clueless when I got my first pleco, and the members here helped me a lot. It's the best, most experienced advice you'll get anywhere!:)

[Violence]

I won't add all the fish at the same time. I'll put the Pleco's in the 50 gallon. Then I will add the Spotted Furcata's and the Angelfish will be last (I'm thinking this will take about a month). They do have a good chance even if you only have two, if not I will put two more. The Spotted Furcata's are humm Pseudomugil gertrudae if I'm not mistaken. The Angelfish have to be added last, they wouldn't get into it with the Spotted Furcata's if there's a lot of hiding places. About the H. Inspector, I was hoping to get him an least after the Pleco's are gone or if there's one left.

The guy at the store told me it's hard to keep an H. Inspector and he told me that with the other three Pleco's it might cause problems and if I decide on getting it, it would be better to keep them away from other Pleco's. It's a solitary fish and he should be happier if I kept him with only one of him kind. He would struggle with the other Pleco's I already have, and they can get territorial with others of his species, but in a 50 gallon tank I could put two (I mean, if I wouldn't have any of my current Pleco's, I could only put two H. Inspectors and maybe it could work).

And as I said before, I don't have the intention of keep the Pleco's too long. I'm really buying a 50 gallon just for them, and even a 50 gallon is too small and two of them have a high chance of outgrowing it pretty quickly and I would maybe be able to keep one Max. I wish I could get a huge tank, it's not even about the money, the problem really is the space. Just to fit the 50 gallon I will have to get a smaller computer desk, get rid of one of my chairs and move around the stuff in my room.

Keep the information coming! I'm noting EVERYTHING!

[racoll]

I would recommend you get a bit more fishkeeping experience under your belt before thinking about Hypancistrus.

Bristlenose plecos are a very easy to keep alternative.

Hypancistrus do best in a natural tank with a thin layer (1cm) of sand, dim lighting and a LOT of rocks and wood to hide among.

They will not adapt to life very well in a bright tank with blue gravel and no backing.

They will be fine on their own, or in groups if there are enough hiding places. It is better to buy a group, as then you have the potential to breed them, and supply the hobby. Many Hypancistrus species are now banned from export, so breeding is the only way to keep them available in the hobby. A lone fish dotted about here and there is not much use!

They need warm (27C+), extremely well oxygenated water, and a meaty diet with the occasional vegetable supplement.

Always buy stock that has been in the shop for less than a month, and you can observe feeding.

It is extremely important to know exactly what you are buying, so you can adequately care for it long-term. I am willing to bet money that the fish in question is not

Hypancistrus inspector

. These are not a common export....

[Violence]

As I said, IF ever I get the H. Inspector, it will not be for now. I'm not even 100% sure I want that one (I want one that ressembles him, black with dots and that won't get to big). And I don't want to buy fish to use them for breeding. NO BREEDING, I mean if it hapens, alright, I'll do with it. http://aquariusweb.qc.ca/docs/recherche ... iche_id=50 That's in french, they don't have it in english though. I can't see the ressemblance or difference between ANY of them. I'm starting to see it now. But they all look the same or all different to me. Anyways, when I will have to give away my current Pleco's, I want a funky looking one (or two) that won't get to huge, so this seemed like the logical choice for me. but hopefully I will be able to keep one of mine.

My Pleco's (and Betta) are fine up to now. They got food, a lot of hiding space. The Pleco's lived together a few months so they're not aggressive at all. I forgot to mention, they were kept in a 5 gallon tank!!! They also seem more active and happier right now then when I fist got them. There's one that's not nocturnal at all, he's all over the place. And the P. joselimaianus run into me when I feed them. He sees my hand and goes nuts and he just gets glued to me and doesn't even care about them food. He can stay on me up to 10 minutes then he goes back to his favorite sucking spot. Should I be worried about that or it's normal for him to do that?







Also, I see pictures of people HOLDING their Pleco, in their fingers OUT of the water. Isn't that bad?

[Violence]

I'm on my way to Wal-Mart to buy hiding spaces! Then I'm going to Aquarius to get my tank and filter and bubbler and vaccum and plants! I'm going shopping for my fish!!!

I need all the info I can get. I read SO much about Pleco's (thanks for the articles), I browsed through the site. Plus all of your helpful information- This is awesome and you're all amazing people. Thank you sooo much! And my Pleco's are thanking you too

Keep the information coming!

[pLaurent1251]

The Spotted Furcata's are humm Pseudomugil gertrudae if I'm not mistaken.

I have a tankful of P.Gertrudae. Unfortunately, adult angelfish will eat them, and they're best kept by themselves. P.Furcatus grows much larger and would be a safer choice. Another nice fish to put with angels are Bleeding Heart tetras!:)

I must check out "Aquarius". Looks like a great place!

[Violence]

Yup I just went to Aquarius. I bought my tank at Wal-Mart though, filter, thermometer, bubbler thing. I bought some hiding spaces, fins protector and some more stuff at Aquarius. He told me Angelfish are alright, but they get big and I can only have one "King" fish in the Aquarium, he shown me other compatible fish that I would put with the Angelfish. The H. Inspector is certified, so it's exactly what they have, they don't have many though. The guy really knew what he was talking about. And the fish are quarentined before they're put with any others. They're kept in VERY good condition also. I'll go back next week to choose and buy my fish (first I will cycle the tank) and also I will add the Angelfish last. I'm not getting the H. Inspector right now and I won't put him in with the Pleco's.

The 55 gallon is fucken huge, AND HEAVY!!! I live on the 3rd floor. This was hell haha!! My Betta grew I'll place de new tank on an antique trunk, the trunk will be on the side so I will be able to put fish products inside.

[pLaurent1251]

I hope the antique trunk is really sturdy, since a 55 gal, filled, is about 650lbs!

I'll go back next week to choose and buy my fish (first I will cycle the tank)

It will take longer than that to cycle a tank, unless you have some well-seasoned filter floss in another tank?

Did you get a water testing kit? It's really important, and don't bother with the strips as they are very inaccurate. The API liquid test is best!:)

[Violence]

I got everything except the stupid vaccum I forgot AGAIN!$#% *Cries*



I'll take pics of the tank in a few minutes.