Panaqolus sp. (L397) care/tips

[jodilynn]

Hi all!

SO happy I FINALLY got my L397 today ! It was the last one left at the LFS.

I know my new little friend needs driftwood to munch on. I have Serra Well's Chips with wood for my Clown pleco, so I can give him/her those. Any particular driftwood? I have two sizeable pieces of cholla in there, does it need "regular" driftwood too? I have a couple small pieces I can get from other tanks (it's in a quarantine tank right now).

Veggies? Emerald Entree with some Garlic Gaurd? Suggestions pls!

It is temporarily homing with a small 2 inch Sultan pleco (lots of hiding spots in the quarantine tank so I do not anticipate any major problems) and 2 Elegant corys.

[stuby]

The best drift wood for them isn't in the store..... in my opinion store bought wood is to hard. Beech, Oak, hard Maple, Cherry, ect are a much better choice. I always use Oak but that is just me. Pick old dead wood, boil it so it kills anything that might be in the wood and so it will sink.

HTH
Chuck

[jodilynn]

Oh ok that's cool! My parents have a lot of woods on their property, I will have to go hunting!

[stuby]

Oh ok that's cool! My parents have a lot of woods on their property, I will have to go hunting!

Perfect..... BTW all plecs love it not just Panaque. But my L397's are fat and happy making sawdust from Oak branches!

Take care,
Chuck

[bekateen]

Congratulations!

As for care, I agree with Chuck: regular wood branches. I use mostly manzanita and oak. I don't bother to remove the bark.

Also, normal veggies like sweet potatoes and zucchini, Brussels sprouts, etc., and some meat, live black worms, clam or shrimp, etc..

Cheers, Eric

[jodilynn]

Eric I have admired your collection of these fish for many moons, very happy to get one of my own finally!

[stuby]

Just want to add...… no pine, poplar, or any soft wood. No grape vines or any of that either.... you want to use hard wood. Boil it for a couple hours should be enough unless it is very thick. As Eric said.... the bark can stay on or take it off it's up to you. Take it off the heat and let cool and make sure it stays under water the entire time...… it will suck up the water as it cools and if done correctly will sink when done.

HTH
Chuck

[jodilynn]

Unfortunately all the large trees on our property are poplars. The woods at my parents' are primarily oak, beech, maple and birch. Lots of hickories too.
I love doing "natural" things for my tanks. I collect mulberry leaves (like, I have stopped and asked people trimming their weeping mulberries if I can have the branches my kids want to diiieeee lol), I do have two mulberries at the back of my property, however it's next to the field my neighbor farms and he does spray it, so I am hesitant to use my own leaves . I harvest dandelion and wild lettuce and parboil them with a bit of Garlic Guard...all my plecos attack that like nothing I have ever seen! I also use oak leaves for my shrimp and snails.
Thanks for the advice!

[jodilynn]

Congratulations!

Why thank you!

As for care, I agree with Chuck: regular wood branches. I use mostly manzanita and oak. I don't bother to remove the bark.

Is this Manzita a warm weather tree? I have never heard of it around the Mitten. I do remember you posting pics of collecting it

Also, normal veggies like sweet potatoes and zucchini, Brussels sprouts, etc., and some meat, live black worms, clam or shrimp, etc..

I have salad shrimp that I know my Hypancistrus love to munch on. Did you also mention parboiled mushrooms?

[bekateen]

Just want to add...… no pine, poplar, or any soft wood.

Hi Chuck, what's wrong with poplar wood?

Thanks, Eric

[bekateen]

Eric I have admired your collection of these fish for many moons, very happy to get one of my own finally!

Top quote Wayne and Garth, "We're not worthy!"

Is this Manzita a warm weather tree? I have never heard of it around the Mitten. I do remember you posting pics of collecting it

Manzanita is a Mediterranean (west coast) wood, adapted to frequent summer fires.

I have salad shrimp that I know my Hypancistrus love to munch on. Did you also mention parboiled mushrooms?

I did not mention cooked mushrooms, but they would be fine too.

Cheers, Eric

[stuby]

Just want to add...… no pine, poplar, or any soft wood.

Hi Chuck, what's wrong with poplar wood?

Thanks, Eric

I think it is to soft and prone to rot to quickly.... nothing bad is in it but could make a mess of the tank.

[bekateen]

I think it is to soft and prone to rot to quickly.... nothing bad is in it but could make a mess of the tank.

Ah, okay.

I have a few unknown pieces of very old soft wood in my tanks. The wood floats year after year. In one tank, I use it as a raft for plants in air. In the Panaqolus tank, the fish chew on it, preventing rot from accumulating.

My advice would be I'd the wood is very old and dry (not fresh off the tree), I would try it with close supervision.

Cheers, Eric

[jodilynn]

I have TONS of poplar wood out in our brush pile. I am sure I can find a couple small "snack sized" pieces for my finned friends!

[jodilynn]

Got a nice little piece of Oak and what looks like wild cherry boiling away...

[Jobro]

nothing bad is in it but could make a mess of the tank.

You got that wrong. It's the panaqolus making a mess of the tank

[stuby]

nothing bad is in it but could make a mess of the tank.

You got that wrong. It's the panaqolus making a mess of the tank

You got that right!!

[jodilynn]

Everything sank right away and I saw a little finny tail wagging away by the one piece of oak ...

[jodilynn]

Husband: Uh...why are you cooking sticks?
Me: Because Panaqolus Steve! Because Panaqolus!

[bekateen]

Steve, Steve, Steve... So much to learn.

[stuby]

Stick soup!!

[jodilynn]

Steve, Steve, Steve... So much to learn.

You think he would know by now not to ask questions