ID this brown pl*co

[bennetbr]

Trying to figure out what species of pl*co. Has 12 spines on the dorsal fin, and a kinda lighter striped pattern under the brown spots (see pic.)

http://www.geocities.com/brian_761/pl.JPG


Thanks

Brian

[Silurus]

Pterygoplichthys pardalis

, showing some stress coloration.

[bennetbr]

What's the trick to get him to eat? I've tried zuccini and peas, which he ignored. He won't even eat a algae disk. I getting kinda worried about him, although at night after the lights are out he will swim all over the tank rasping on his driftwood and the sides of the tank. Any help would be great.

Thanks

Brian

[MatsP]

When do you put the food in? If you feed just before lights out, that would be the ideal time. Leave it in there until the next day.

I'm not an expert on these ones, but a slice of courgette (zucchini) on a teaspoon to make it sink is the perfect "bait" for most herbivore/omnivore pleco's. Only ones that I don't think eat that sort of thing would be Hypancistrus and maybe Baryancistrus.

If you cook the zucchini for about half a minute, it will be a little bit softer, without being so soft that it's falling apart.

Peas: You need to take the skin off, or it won't be eaten, because they don't know how to get past the skin.

Algae wafers: I've not yet seen any of my plecos refuse it, and one of my Hypostomus Plecostomus (or similar) used to take dry-food from the top of the tank (swimming upside down no less).

You could also try with some bloodworm served just before/after lights out. Most fish will eat some of that, even if they are picky eaters. Frozen or live ones are best.

--
Mats

[eclipsecatfish]

Pterygoplichthys pardalis , I agree with silurus.