Peppermint Pl*co not eating

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 05 Feb 2006, 20:48

Greetings all! I've used your site for quite some time for helpful catfish info.

Well I picked up a small (2in) peppermint pl*co from my LFS (have had it for about 3 days now) and can't seem to tempt its appetite with anything. The stomach seems rather sunken, but not the eyes...yet.

I've tried spirulina wafers, freeze dried tubifex, blanched zucchini, and even tried that trick where you paint a mixture of ground spirulina wafers and egg whites onto a rock. I saw the pl*co just fly over the rock and not give it a 2nd glance.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Perhaps some live foods?

Allen Myers · Post by **Allen Myers** » 05 Feb 2006, 21:28

Hi Phatfish. A friend of mine had similar problems with another type of pl*co and tried some of the Pl*co Power Pellets that I sell. His pl*cos went right after this food. I can send you a sample to try if you'd like. E-mail me at amyersjr@stny.rr.com

Allen

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 05 Feb 2006, 22:08

1st ones free eh?

But I'm sure everyone is curious what they are, and what is in them that makes them more likely to be accepted by/better for our pl*cos. I doubt many on here would buy/feed their fish complete mystery magical pellets. Do tell us more about them.

Anyone else have any ideas about something I could pick up at the supermarket or LFS today?

buzz763 · Post by **buzz763** » 06 Feb 2006, 03:32

I tried garlic in my tank for the first time today and the fish in all my tanks went crazy for it. I cut it into small strings and blanched it in the microwave for about 40 seconds and threw it in and it was gone in seconds. I have read in a few places that this can stimulate some hard to feed plecos to feed and also control internal parasites promoting good health.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 06 Feb 2006, 10:17

I'd keep the same food in the tank for a few days [replacing the food every 24-48 hours so it doesnt go off, but replacing it with the same type in the same place].

Many fish are "neo-pbobic", i.e. don't like new things. If they haven't eaten courgette/zucchini in the wild, they don't necessarily know that it's good food until after a few days.

Also, if you've only had them for a few days, they are still new in the tank and somewhat stressed...

Garlic is a good idea too - I haven't used it in any of my tanks, but I've heard good things from people I trust...

--
Mats

Mindy · Post by **Mindy** » 06 Feb 2006, 15:40

I use garlic regularly... but I use it raw.

new2Lnumbers · Post by **new2Lnumbers** » 06 Feb 2006, 16:00

"Pl*co Power Pellets" are really what salmon breeders feed there fingerlings, It is sold in 50 pound bags.

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 06 Feb 2006, 19:05

Thanks all. I think my fish ate some brine shrimp and a spirulina wafer overnight.

In particular thanks for the advice about sticking with a food. I think I have been trying too many foods keeping my fish in a state of confusion.

I'll give you guys an update at some point.

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 07 Feb 2006, 04:15

Hmm well the wafer I had thought was eaten was found. I suppose tank current or the pl*co moved it.

Perhaps I'll try some garlic tomorrow.

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 14 Feb 2006, 01:41

My fish is STILL not eating. I think it may be surviving off of some stuff on the glass; however it won't eat anything I put in the tank. I have tried garlic (both raw and blanched) and have been putting the same type of wafer in the same place everyday without results.

Any more suggestions are very welcome!

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 14 Feb 2006, 09:24

I read about someone with an L260 that he "force-fed" by stuffing blood-worms into it's mouth, holding it upside down. Apparently it worked. Search for L260 and a subject of "Why did it die" or something like that.

--
Mats

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 14 Feb 2006, 22:46

http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... hp?t=14222

I'm not opposed to trying this; however I've got some questions.

1. Should I still use blood worms for a peppermint pl*co?

2. How do I grab the fish without hurting myself or the fish??

3. How do I keep the fish from suffocating?

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 15 Feb 2006, 12:13

1. Bloodworms isn't such a bad thing at this point - it needs to be something that is small enough, and nutritious, so bloodworms is pretty good on both counts.

2. There are several places where Ancistrus are "sharp": Opercular odontodes (back end of gill cover)
Pectoral spine
Dorsal fin

Best way to hold the fish is to grab just above the pectoral fins (that's the first pair just behind the head, in case you don't know the technical names of fins), making sure you're holding it quite a bit behind the gill-cover where the opercular spines come out.

3. As long as you don't leave the fish out of water and go off for dinner, this isn't going to be a problem. They can survive for quite some time out of water - as long as the fish doesn't dry out, it's fine...

--
Mats

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 16 Feb 2006, 05:28

I just tried this and the Pl3c0 only spat them out.

I guess I can keep trying, but this is pretty ridiculous. Damn Pl3c0's and their eating disorders.

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 20 Feb 2006, 04:35

I still haven't gotten this fish to eat. Honestly I don't know how itâ??s survived for so long. Itâ??s in its own tank right now so I know for sure itâ??s not eating the food I put in.

My question now is should I try and move it to my other tank with some cory's and danios? There is also a slightly larger common or sailfin pl3co in there as well. Do you think being around other fish that are eating would help? Or would it just get scared?

pureplecs · Post by **pureplecs** » 20 Feb 2006, 13:48

Hi, when I first got my peppermint plecs they really wouldn't eat and didn't look so hot. It/they did not eat (that I saw) for at least the first week or so. Once it got used to the tank and established it's territory it started eating, the larger plec I see eating algae growth off of the plants all the time and the smaller one I NEVER see eat however it has a full belly. I make sure and feed this particular tank at night with veggie/spirulina pellets just for the plecs when lights go out to give them a better chance at the food before the rest of the piggies in the tank get to it.

How long now has it been since your little guy ate?

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 21 Feb 2006, 05:07

pureplecs wrote:Hi, when I first got my peppermint plecs they really wouldn't eat and didn't look so hot. It/they did not eat (that I saw) for at least the first week or so. Once it got used to the tank and established it's territory it started eating, the larger plec I see eating algae growth off of the plants all the time and the smaller one I NEVER see eat however it has a full belly. I make sure and feed this particular tank at night with veggie/spirulina pellets just for the plecs when lights go out to give them a better chance at the food before the rest of the piggies in the tank get to it.

How long now has it been since your little guy ate?

3 full weeks since I got it. I always have to take out the uneaten food the next day. I used to see it on the glass from time to time so it must have gotten some nourishment there...however since I've tried the force feeding I've only see it stick its head out of its favorite cave, then jet back in when I walk by.

Oddly enough I just noticed some danio fry in the tank! I had moved all of the danios to another tank when I got the peppermint pl3co. Apparently there where some eggs in there I guess.

MatsP · Post by **MatsP** » 21 Feb 2006, 10:03

Have you tried leaving a bit of courgette in the tank for more than a day at a time. I know this may soil the water a bit, but it's also possible that the fish will eat it...

It's very hard to solve this without a lot of experimenting, and unfortunately, it's hard to say what works and doesn't...

--
Mats

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 21 Feb 2006, 10:22

MatsP wrote:Have you tried leaving a bit of courgette in the tank for more than a day at a time. I know this may soil the water a bit, but it's also possible that the fish will eat it...

It's very hard to solve this without a lot of experimenting, and unfortunately, it's hard to say what works and doesn't...

--
Mats

Yep, left some in for 2 days. Tried it a few times, and it wasn't touched.

Phatfish · Post by **Phatfish** » 27 Feb 2006, 22:16

Welp this fish finally kicked the bucket.

Still, thanks for all the advice.