L177 behaviour...

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 09 May 2005, 11:18

History:
I've got two L177 Gold Nugget plecos'. The first one is about 3" TL and has been in my tank for a few months now. The second has been in there for a little less than a month, but is slightly bigger, as it was a "return", the owner was in the military and had to leave the fish for a while, so took them back to the shop, and one of them was a L177 at about 4.5", which I bought for slightly less than the first one.

The bigger gold nugget is the largest inhabitant in the tank, although the three pictus cats are a little bit longer, the gold nugget certainl wins on weight/width.

Observations last night:
I was watching the tank after I'd fed some bloodworms after lights out. The bigger one came out from hiding and started chasing after everything in sight, chasing them of it's territory, including the pictus cat that is a little longer than the GN.

At one point, it met up with the smaller gold nugget. It's being chased off too, but in a funny way it seems more accepting towards the gold nugget than other species.

A while later, the bigger one is back to it's favourite space, a big piece of wood with a water outlet just behind it, and the smaller gold nugget is moving in that direction. Eventually, they "meet", when the smaller reaches the tail end of the bigger one. A small skirmish ensues, but just a quick shove from the bigger one, and the small one moves past it and settles on top of the piece of wood.

It seems like they like to be close together, yet not too close, if you see what I mean.

Does this mean anything, or was the bigger one just happy that there was no more bloodworms available (or no more room in stomach perhaps), and couldn't be bothered to chase it off further?

I'm hoping, but not confident, that they are behaving like this because they are a pair.

None of the "fighting" is viscous in any way, just a quick nudge to get others out of the way.

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Mats

dancingdryad · Post by **dancingdryad** » 09 May 2005, 17:48

My L204's and L66's behave much in a similar way to your Gold Nuggets... I have 3 L204's, 2 that are a good 3" and a baby thats about 1.5". They're currently in the community tank and are out and about day and night totally unperturbed by the chaos of the other fish or all the lights being on. The bigger two squabble a lot over food, and will chase each other about but when they're not feeding they will be very social with each other and share a large piece of bogwood. Both of the larger ones will not tolerate the baby, they are not particularly aggressive towards it but just like it out of their sight and the feeling seems to be mutual. I've had a close look at both of the larger fish but can't decide if they're a pair or not. One does have longer cheek whiskers and seems a bit more fuzzy on the body but the difference isn't hugely noticable.

The L66's behave similarly, there are three in the tank of similar size plus one that I think is possibly a L236, still trying to work that one out... Anyway I'm fairly sure that there is one male and two female L66's they all squabble over food but have all found their favourite spots to hide, one hides in the bogwood and the others seem content to stay on the substrate near the other piece of bogwood.

It seems to me that the squabbles are brought about by two things, food and hiding places. When they've had their fill of food and have sorted out who sits where peace reigns. As for the socialising maybe that is the behaviour of pairs or just contented fish.

kev · Post by **kev** » 09 May 2005, 21:04

i have a nugget that's about 4-5" but he's pretty quiet, it's the L-236's that cause the bother, they are not with the nugget nor any other plec's for that matter. 2 of them where kicking the living s**t out of one another the other mornin all over a bloody cave of which there is about 6 and only 4 of them!!!. I think i have 2 boy's and 2 girl's but ive only had them for a few week's so i don't think they are try'n to breed so soon but who know's. They really go for it when they fight

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Kev.

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 10 May 2005, 09:06

none of my plecs take any notice of other species. but it may all depend on what species perhaps? maybe Pimelodids are an exception?

although i have noticed that of the 10 different species of Loricariid i keep, the gold nugget is definately the most aggressive!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 10 May 2005, 10:52

racoll wrote:none of my plecs take any notice of other species. but it may all depend on what species perhaps? maybe Pimelodids are an exception?

although i have noticed that of the 10 different species of Loricariid i keep, the gold nugget is definately the most aggressive!

My ancsitrus's will defend their food (algae wafers or vegetables) against anyone who comes too close, including the big goldfish that "Gus", the female, is currently cohabiting with [to prevent more spawning]. If there's no food to defend, not worried at all about who's close by...

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Mats