L200 Info please

All posts regarding the care and breeding of these catfishes from South America.
Post Reply
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

L200 Info please

Post by squid »

Hi,

I just got myself a 5 inch l200 green phantom pleco, it was suggested to me by the lfs , I have it as tankmate for my arowana, the tani is 8x2.5x.2.5 , its currently barebuttom, with 10 pieces clown loaches, I've added a big driftwood, but as of now its still floating, how do i sex the l200?
can i have 2 pieces in my 8 foot tank? I would like to have 1 male and female if possible?
diet will be spirulina sinking pellets and soft and moist pellets, the tank does get sunligh so there's algae on the sides and buttom of the tank.
Would appreciate tips with this pleco.

thanks.
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

Should be no ptabroblem with putting 2 in your 8 foot tank. Although it might make them more comfortable to have more wood (sunken) and rocks to hide, and be in a bigger group of say 6 -8.

I cannot help you with the sexing information, although at 5 inches, it might still be too young to be sexable. For diet, what you have is ok, but the do enjoy fresh vegetables a lot more, like yams, zucchini, cucumber, melons and the the like. Mine are all fat and healthy based on this diet. I aslo feed mine earthworm stick and live blackworm and frozen bloodworms a few times a week as a treatment (I feed twice a day).
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: L200 Info please

Post by MatsP »

I'm personally not a fan of bare bottom tanks - particularly not with plecos and other bottom dwelling fish.

And yes, they are sexable, but 5" fish are HARD to sex on their own - you can probably pick out likely male/female "candidates" in a group of fish at that size, but you'd better get more than one of what you think are the males/females, just in case you get it a bit wrong.

If they are in good condition, it's quite easy to tell male from female around 7" total length.

--
Mats
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

thanks :) Are they easy to care for? Today i checked the tank, he/she's out of the hiding place and cleaning the algae on the glass, but i noticed in algae cleaning , Gibbiceps seems to clean the glass faster? I prefer bare buttom tank as this way, i can see uneaten food/poop and siphon them during my water change :) for easier maintenance, though a tank with sand/gravel really looks better.

there were only 3 pieces in the lfs, i chose the bigest one.
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

They're very good eaters, in my experience, and decent algae eaters of rocks and wood, but they don't clean the glass, so if that's what you are after, they're not it. They love hard vegetables with skin on it like yams and zucchini. Last night they ate lightly microwaved carrots (whole with skin on it).
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

just brought home my 2nd l200

does this look like a male or female

Image

Image

Image

this is their tank. I'm going to add 1 more driftwood.

Image

Image

Hope they don't fight
Thanks.
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: L200 Info please

Post by MatsP »

As long as there is enough hiding spaces, they will just defend their own territory, as far as I can tell.

I'm absolutely not certain, but the head looks wide and the pectoral fins are quite thick - male. But don't take my word for it, but more importantly, it'll get more clear when they get older.

--
Mats
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

thanks mats :) I'll be adding some more PVC pipes as caves for them.
Wish i was able to get some topview of my first l200 as well :D

btw i have lots of algae on my tanks glass, should i start dropping algae wafers for them also?
During daytime i feed them with soft and moist sinking pellets, this are actually for my clown loaches, but i'll make sure they also get some.
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

They'll eat some algae, and would also eat the wafers, but they really like fresh vegetables, especially the skin. At least mine do.
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

2wheelsx2 wrote:They'll eat some algae, and would also eat the wafers, but they really like fresh vegetables, especially the skin. At least mine do.
thanks :) I'm planning to get 2-3 more, would 5 be a good number?
I'll be adding lots of hiding places for them.
User avatar
MatsP
Posts: 21038
Joined: 06 Oct 2004, 13:58
My articles: 4
My images: 28
My cats species list: 117 (i:33, k:0)
My aquaria list: 10 (i:8)
My BLogs: 4 (i:0, p:97)
Spotted: 187
Location 1: North of Cambridge
Location 2: England.

Re: L200 Info please

Post by MatsP »

squid wrote:thanks :) I'm planning to get 2-3 more, would 5 be a good number?
I'll be adding lots of hiding places for them.
Yes, 5 is a fine number. I would recommend putting a layer of medium-fine sand in the tank as well.

--
Mats
User avatar
Farid
Posts: 404
Joined: 20 Sep 2007, 22:29
My cats species list: 1 (i:1, k:0)
Location 1: Switzerland/Zurich
Contact:

Re: L200 Info please

Post by Farid »

hi there,
a photo straight from the top would be cool.
i also recommend mats tips a bit of sand and no pyramid pipes but flat a bit longer then the ones you have...all of these pipes (for 5 L200 about 8 pipes) cover all pipes with the wood. better is more then not enough wood as they also feed from there (bacteria film)

dont forget to feed enough vegetable, they also eat whole shrimps...

farid
My cats L2,49,47,46,L66,134,181,189,200,201,204,205,208,260,397,LG6,Parotocinclus recife/halderoi,A.ranunculus,Peckoltia sp. "rio palacio",Pseudohemiodon platycephalus/lamina,Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus,Rineloricaria lanceolata,St.festivum,Akysis vespa,Bunocephalus corracoides,Synodontis multipunctatus/grandiops, C.panda,adolfoi,cruziensis
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

Farid wrote: dont forget to feed enough vegetable, they also eat whole shrimps...

farid
Mine don't seem to want to touch the shrimps at all. Maybe it's because they're not used to them. My L128, on the other hand, seem to nibble at it.
User avatar
Farid
Posts: 404
Joined: 20 Sep 2007, 22:29
My cats species list: 1 (i:1, k:0)
Location 1: Switzerland/Zurich
Contact:

Re: L200 Info please

Post by Farid »

hey
mine sit on them the whole night long...in the morning as it is with shrimps there is not much left.

regards
farid
My cats L2,49,47,46,L66,134,181,189,200,201,204,205,208,260,397,LG6,Parotocinclus recife/halderoi,A.ranunculus,Peckoltia sp. "rio palacio",Pseudohemiodon platycephalus/lamina,Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus,Rineloricaria lanceolata,St.festivum,Akysis vespa,Bunocephalus corracoides,Synodontis multipunctatus/grandiops, C.panda,adolfoi,cruziensis
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

Hmmm...I was going to suggest that my L264 were getting to the shrimps first, but that's not the case, as I always have quite a bit of shrimp left in the morning to clear away. Guess I'll have to try it more often and see what happens.
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

Thnaks :) will try to get 1 more this weekend,
I tried to drop some microwaved carrots, but they don't seem interested?
I'm hesitant to add gravel, since the tank is quite deepa nd i'll have trouble vacuuming the gravel .

but will be adding more wood and pvc pipes :)
i'll try to take a picture of top view of my tank :D
User avatar
2wheelsx2
Posts: 1018
Joined: 16 Jan 2006, 06:55
I've donated: $20.00!
My cats species list: 71 (i:3, k:0)
My aquaria list: 5 (i:4)
Location 1: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Location 2: BC, Canada
Interests: motorcycles, tropical fish, car detailing

Re: L200 Info please

Post by 2wheelsx2 »

Add some smooth stones too. They seem to like those to swim over and around. Some piled stones and wood will make them more at home, then if you don't want gravel, you don't have to worry about the loss of bio colony since the wood and stones will harbour them, and will allow the L200 to "graze" on them.
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

2wheelsx2 wrote:Add some smooth stones too. They seem to like those to swim over and around. Some piled stones and wood will make them more at home, then if you don't want gravel, you don't have to worry about the loss of bio colony since the wood and stones will harbour them, and will allow the L200 to "graze" on them.
thanks :) I will also add some slates :D
will post update again :D
hiplecoman
Posts: 20
Joined: 20 Apr 2005, 07:00
Location 1: Honolulu,Hawaii USA

Re: L200 Info please

Post by hiplecoman »

they are definitely not fussy eaters. Ive thrown tetra tabin, spectrum fish food, dainichi veggie deluxe, spectrum algae wafers, fresh zucchini & cucumbers
squid
Posts: 378
Joined: 24 Feb 2004, 12:30
Location 1: Philippines.
Interests: Tropical fish, internet, swimming, sleeping...

Re: L200 Info please

Post by squid »

I currently have 3 l200's in my tank, i would like to add 2 more, but they are really good cleaners.

They have already finished off all the algaes on the glass, currently i'm feeding them spirulina pellets and soft and moist sinking pellets, i would like to add 2 more, but i'm worried they might not have enough algae to eat?

here's the cleaned tank.

Image

notice the floating driftwood? there's 1 l200 who like to hide there.

btw for l200's of the same batch, is it applicable that the smaller ones are usually females and bigger ones male?
Post Reply

Return to “South American Catfishes (Loricariidae - Plecos et al)”