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Hi all. I am just getting into the plecos and found this neat forum to ask questions, learn, and view cool pictures.

My question is... I just purchased a l007 vampire pleco, a l200 grn. phantom, and a l239 blue panaque. Is there foods that they would all like to eat? They look "pretty" good. They are in a 65 gallon. I have a bunch of big driftwood. A couple airstones to move the water with the filter. Heat at 82. But I noticed their bellies aren't fat. I'm just worried they aren't eating good because I'm not giving the things the right type of food. I figured I should be able to get their bellies fat, right?

I have been feeding... omega flakes, frzn. bloodworms, brine, algea wafers.

Am I missing anything?


Thanks.

go get some cucumber. cut it in half longway, then in pieces a couple inches long. stick a fork in it and put it in the tank. once they get it figured out, theyll love it. another thing to try would be peas. Tie them to something, that same fork maybe, with a rubber band and let them try that. spinage works for me too. i use a chip bag clip and let it sink to the bottom and they eat a bundle of them in a couple days. Just trying tohelp with what i have had wor for me. btw,Im jealous, i cand find a 007 anywhere

Read the following article by Matsp: http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworl ... cle_id=294

You might consider some meats (ie. seafoods) to add for the vampire plec; they are more carnivorous than your average plec. Most plecs appreciate a lot of food and pass it very quickly through their systems. I use zuchinni and winter melon in my tanks a lot for this purpose, but lettuce and just about any veggie will do.

Also, though you do have a filter, a powerhead to get some real flow going would be better than air stones.

I wouldn't use a fork with my plecs, I'd be worried they'd skewer themselves, lol. Use a spoon or rubber band them to a rock.

It's a bit of a difficult mix - the L007 will like lots of meaty food - in nature Leporcanthicus will eat various forms of freshwater crustaceans (shrimps and such) and snails. Baryancistrus on the other hand (L239 is ) will want mostly vegetables and lots of fiber. They will eat many other things, but to keep healthy, it will need quite a bit of vegetable in it's diet. The will be happy with a good mix of meaty and vegetable foods.

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Mats

As Mats puts it, it is a tricky mix as you have 2 fish with opposite requirements & the L239 can be difficult to keep long term - there are plenty of threads about people having difficulty with them - the best success appears to be with adedicated tank for these.

hi there,
i would adjust the temperaure up to 86°F as their digestion will work better that for they should also be more hungry.

try cucumbers, red paprika, frozen shrims(asia store), and something like plancton tabs. all other tabs should work as well soon as they are used to them.

feed them specially at night time so they will go for the food.

farid