L264 Sultan plec?

[PaperDoves]

I've just come across some of these on Aquabid and am in love. I've been reading about them for the past couple of hours since I found them, and I'm seriously considering getting one. Does anyone here have experience with these? Is there anything that I might not be thinking of, or that I might need to know that's not easily found by generally reading over many sources online?

Will they do okay with my bristlenoses? It looks like they have a similar diet, fresh veggies but with the addition of meat such as shrimp. Is it okay to just get one?

[Jobro]

beautiful fish for sure.

What's your tanks size and what are your waters parameters?

[smitty]

L264 is one of my favorites. These love water movement and it should be oxygen rich (heavy aeration). They do not take jumps in nitrates well. They love veggies. Go for it or even a couple. You will love them

[Linus_Cello]

I had one. It was the only fish I lost after I moved (used a bucket rather than plastic bag). I was even using the new house water for water changes. Guess the stress was too much.
Anyway, do a search on this forum. I think some people had issue with bloat, so even though it's "carnivorous," feed lots of veggies (if you're also feeding lots of market shrimp).

[PaperDoves]

Thank you very much. I just put in my order and payment for two of these. My present tank is a 55 gallon, well established, I test weekly and it's always steady at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, <5 ppm nitrates. I have some live plants but I wouldn't call it heavily planted by any means. Lots of rock formations forming hides and caves, I plan to add proper pleco caves soon. I have a gentle but constant current flowing through my tank, the leaves of my plants (and the fins of my longfin bns when at rest) move gently but not so hard as to cause stress. My air pump is rated for a 200 gallon tank, if I remember correctly, and I have it blowing out through a long flexible black air wand behind the rocks on one end of the tank. I can try to post a picture of my tank, just taken last night.

Here is the picture, I got it figured out.

[PaperDoves]

I should also mention that I have a 120 that I'm taking my time to set up. I hope to have it up and running within a month or two. I'll be keeping the 55 going also.

[tagamasid1023]

These are very voracious eaters IME. Carnivore but very susceptible to bloating with daily protein-based diet. More plant-based sinking tabs is best and less on protein-based food. Fresh prawns can be offered once or twice a month.
These are also very aggressive among themselves and others just like any other Leporacanthicus. Thus, more driftwood, rocks, and caves are recommended, as these are very reserved and spend most of the daytime hiding in the darkest areas of the tank. Your Ancistrus is alright as long as there is adequate space. Keep in mind that Sultans can grow more than six inches long and will demand more.
Plants are not required with these because they will eventually uproot them with their robust nature. Less to zero lighting is also best for these (IME), so plants have really no place in tanks with Leporacanthicus species.
Good luck.

[PaperDoves]

Thank you. I'm waiting for them as we speak, they're set for delivery today. I can't wait to see these guys and get them into their QT tank!

I feed flakes, nls pellets, frozen brine shrimp, frozen bloodworms, and live mosquito larvae when I can cultivate them (I keep a clean bucket of water undisturbed on my deck, but we have few mosquitos here even in summer). I also keep some type of vegetable in the tank at all times- zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, sweet potato, melon, etc. I change this every 24 hours, so there is always vegetable available but it's always fresh. I do about a 25%-30% water change twice per week.

I should have the 120 up and running within a month or two, and as soon as it's cycled and ready these will be among the fish that will move over to the larger tank. I will add more rocks and caves for them, and I'll keep the lighting lower or create a dark corner for them.

[Linus_Cello]

NLS pellets are good, especially those with garlic in it to help maybe act as an appetite stimulant.