Blue Pleco

Madame X · Post by **Madame X** » 28 Oct 2003, 18:44

Last night, I saw that my LFS had some blue plecos that were amazing! He said they were blue phantoms but when I looked up the info in the cat-eLog here, it looks like the blue panaque (no spots like the blue phantom shows here).

There wasn't much info on the blue panaque--does anyone have one? I'd like to know how big they get and what kind of care they require (i.e. feeding habits, water conditions, etc.).

They're still under quarantine for a few days but I'd like to pick one up if I can provide a good home for him. Any help would be appreciated!

magnum4 · Post by **magnum4** » 28 Oct 2003, 19:24

madame X can we have your location in the profile.

There are a few others on the web site who wouldn't mind knowing which shop they are in.

Blue eyed basic info: Temperature, 20-25, strongish current, length 8" water pH6.2-7.4
GH 4-15. mature set up recomended.

feeding: bloodworms, flake, algae, cucumber, tabimin....ect.

Post by **Silurus** » 28 Oct 2003, 19:39

Blue eyed basic info

Blue-eyed or blue? I thought it was blue (L239) that Madame X was referring to.

magnum4 · Post by **magnum4** » 28 Oct 2003, 20:05

Blue-eyed or blue? I thought it was blue (L239) that Madame X was referring to.

Sorry my mistake common name confusion L239 is an ancistrus and madame x ask for panaque.

There wasn't much info on the blue panaque--does anyone have one?

Does anything get past hoek hee?

Madame X · Post by **Madame X** » 28 Oct 2003, 20:09

It was the blue (L239), not blue-eyed. Sorry for the confusion.

He looks just like this: http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/lo ... i/42_1.htm

I updated my profile to show my location. If anyone is interested in knowing where I found them, please send me a PM. I might swing back by tonight and take a picture of what they have to make sure this is what it is.

Post by **Janne** » 28 Oct 2003, 20:18

Blue Panaque L-239, I think this species not are a panaque bur are called for that.
They dont chew on wood and they prefer a carnivore diet like cyclops, brine shrimp and sometimes bloodwormes and sinking wafers. It's easy to see the different between the male and female with very (extremely) long odontodes from the gills and the very spiny pectoral on the male, the female lack this totally or have very short odontodes.
They prefer strong current, pH 6,5-7,5 and a temp around 27-28 C and are not impossible to breed if you make the water softer.
They will not grow over 10-12 cm I think, I have had mine for 1,5 year and they have not reach more then 9-10 cm yet.

L-239 do not belong to the Ancistrus, we have to wait and see where it belongs.

Janne

Vik · Post by **Vik** » 28 Oct 2003, 22:33

I have four L239 in my tank, they are a shy fish and I rarely see but a nose or tail. They seem to enjoy zucchini, bloodworms and krill. I don't see them attacking the spirulina tablets like some of my others, but I rarely see them out much at all. They are darker now that they are in a natural colored environment too. My tank has natural colored gravel and driftwood with caves everywhere. I do not notice much "blue" to them, more of a dark bluish black. They really seem to need excellent water quality and are very sensitive to pH and possibly temperature. When my tank got ich, the only ones who did not make it were L239. I think that they are possibly more sensitive than some other L numbers.

Madame X · Post by **Madame X** » 28 Oct 2003, 23:36

Thanks for the responses. I just called the store to speak with someone who I was told had more knowledge of these fish and he swears they are blue phantoms (L128). I don't remember these having spots, nor does my husband. We're going back to take another look tonight. I will take a picture and post it if they let me so I can get a positive ID.

If its an L128 I might be able to put him in my 30 gallon well-planted tank, but the PH in my 29 gallon (where I have more space) is probably too high.