Will there be agression between 2 queen arabesque plecos?

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 25 Nov 2003, 03:01

Hi everyone, I currently have a queen arabesque pleco (L260) in my 20 gallon tank, and I like him (or her-I'm not sure) so much that I am thinking of buying another. I was just wondering if they enjoy their own company or if they will fight/be agressive towards one another. This is a very peaceful tank and I am looking to keep it that way. Thanks for any replies!

One more thing...I was reading up on how to sex them and it says "males longer interopercular, pectoral odontodes". What exactly does this mean? I highly doubt I'll have a chance to examine their bellies for marbling at the lfs. Thanks again![/quote]

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 25 Nov 2003, 03:41

A 20 gallon tank is not big enough for 2 plecs.

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 25 Nov 2003, 04:25

Do you mean because of their size? Or because of their temperment? The cat e-log says the max size is 3.6" which is hardly a large pleco...

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 25 Nov 2003, 05:31

I wouldn't consider it to be a problem, as long as it's not 2 males...

Yann · Post by **Yann** » 25 Nov 2003, 20:00

Hi!

It might be a concern if you have only one hidding place to offer... if each fish has a place to hide it should not be a problem... even if they are 2 males...
Cheers
Yann

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 26 Nov 2003, 00:56

westwood8183 wrote:Do you mean because of their size? Or because of their temperment? The cat e-log says the max size is 3.6" which is hardly a large pl*co...

Howdy,
To be more specific a pair in a twenty alone would be fine. I am assuming other fish are in the tank as well and was referring to bio-load. Two 3-1/2" plecs can create a LOT of waste.

Blue skies,
Mike

S. Allen · Post by **S. Allen** » 26 Nov 2003, 04:28

hypancistrus species create considerably less waste than you standard pleco IME. It's probably got a lot to do with the fact they eat meaty foods, so they can digest a larger percentage of it.

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 26 Nov 2003, 13:32

I'll agree with that, but, it's still considerably more waste than most aquarium fish produce.

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 26 Nov 2003, 23:40

Hi, thanks for all the replies! I'm not too worried about the bioload...the tank is pretty lightly stocked with 4 panda corys, 2 otos, and 2 rams. I do 25% weekly water changes and it is pretty heavily planted as well.

Could anyone explain in laymans terms how to sex them? Are odontodes the little extensions that come off of their gill plates? Mine does have those...but as far as determining whether or not they are long I have no idea.

der Ingo · Post by **der Ingo** » 27 Nov 2003, 00:49

Also on the first ray of the pectoral fins the males will have lots of little spikes. They will also generally have brighter colors, but it isn't as noticable unless you have two right next to each other.

In my opinion, with the weekly water changes and plants, you should be fine. If you do plan to do it, just make sure there are plenty of caves and crevices to choose from. It would be a good idea to deworm the plecs though. Wild caught plecs carry all sorts of internal parasites. You can do that using discomed.

Post by **Barbie** » 27 Nov 2003, 01:59

This is a picture of my big male queen arabesque, to give you an idea of what he's talking about. This fish is 5" TL or so, so keep that in mind when comparing them

Barbie

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 27 Nov 2003, 04:13

I think I get the picture now

Thanks! The extensions on my little guy (or gal) are no where near that long. How big do they need to be in order to sex them? Mine is maybe 3" from head to tail and there are no signs of those big extensions.

Barbie: I take it the cat e-log is a little off on the potential size? Or is the 3.6 measuring from the head to the base of the tail maybe?

Post by **Rusty** » 27 Nov 2003, 04:17

westwood8183 wrote:Or is the 3.6 measuring from the head to the base of the tail maybe?

Almost all of the measurements in the Cat-e-Log are in SL, or from the tip of the snout to the end of the caudal peduncle.

Rusty

Post by **Barbie** » 27 Nov 2003, 05:03

Yes, TL is total length, head to tail

I would have to force him out of his pot to check SL accurately, and I just don't need to know that bad. You should read the article on spawning these guys in the Shane's world section. You can also use the color of their stomachs to differentiate sexes

Barbie

westwood8183 · Post by **westwood8183** » 29 Nov 2003, 00:47

Yup, I did read that article. The only problem is I don't think my lfs would appreciate turning them all over so I can see their stomachs! Thanks again for all the help.

mallemalle · Post by **mallemalle** » 29 Nov 2003, 01:55

if they dont let you turn them over you dont have the chance to look for sick induviduals either..

mallemalle