What are the conditions for L-177 to thrive?

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 12 Oct 2003, 05:57

I just lost my last 2 L-177s. I like them a lot and would like to keep them but I can't seem to make them thrive.

I had the last 2 in a tank with plenty of driftwood. I fed live blackworms, frozen bloodworms, brineshrimp, algaewafers, Aquadine flake, zuccini, shrimp ,etc.
They never seem to get going and eat a lot, just kindof wither away.

Conditions in the tank are: 82 degrees, GH 9, PH7.5 , NH3/4 - 0, NO2 - 0 and NO3 - 0.

I even added some metronidazole to make sure there was no stomach parasites. The last two days they were hanging on the glass close to the surface but otherwise they were active and swimming well. I can't say I saw them feed aggressivley but their stomachs were not sunken in. My L-18/85 are doing great but I like the larger spots of the L-177 better I just need to find out how to get them to survive.

Post by **Barbie** » 12 Oct 2003, 06:31

How exactly do you manage zero nitrates?

Barbie

polkadot · Post by **polkadot** » 12 Oct 2003, 07:53

Try to get the bigger ones. Smaller plecos are generally more vulnerable.

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 12 Oct 2003, 13:34

Barbie,
I test with Aquarium Pharmacuticals test kit which doesn't really start to register well until the 20-30 range (IMO) - the only tanks I get readable nitrates 20-40 range (at wich point I do large waterchanges) are the large CA cichlid tanks that get fed a lot.

All smaller tanks get vaccumed on a daily or every other day basis. They also get 2 good waterchanges a week. I think the testing is relativley accurate but if you would like I can take the lowrange Saliferts and check it. I use that test for my planted tank and anytime I want more precise results .

Does that seem about right or am I off?

I have noticed that the L-177 are very sensative to poor waterquality and need almost daily waterchanges or they hang at the surface, they are also not very big eaters.
This being said , I have a feeling that it is part of the problem. Generally when I have bought them or seen them they have sunken bellies and often ick.
When bringing them home it is a challange to not feed the first couple of days and then lightly as they look so starved.
I have tried to fatten them up with a hight protein diet of several varieties but I do notice a lot of uneaten food that gets vaccumed up.

I do a formalin dip on fish that are wildcaught , metro if they are looking starved and a variety of foods along with driftwood. Mature filter/tank a few plants and plenty of waterchanges but I still can't seem to succeed.

Polkadot,
the last one I got was about 3-4" which is about the biggest I have seen for sale.
I generally have much better sucess with smaller fish.

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 12 Oct 2003, 14:56

I'm no expert, but my L-177 is very healthy and growing. I've had him for 8 months now and he's gone from 2" to about3.5".

http://www.corydorasworld.com/planetcat ... oldnugget2

My tank parameters are as follows: pH 6.4, NH3 0, NO2 0, NO3 Negligible (lots of plants and routine water changes), KH 40ppm, GH 100ppm, temp 82*F.

mokmu · Post by **mokmu** » 12 Oct 2003, 15:55

Certainly, try the bigger ones. They are more resilient. I don't know if this will help but from my experience I use a lot of current with oxygen via the powerheads venturri devices pointed directly into my driftwood snag. I've noticed they've enjoyed hanging directly unto the current. It maybe the current or the air bubbles or both that they are interested in.

Don't get me wrong. I have had my share of dead gold nuggets (L177s). Yes, it seems like the larger you get them, the stronger they are.

Regards,
Mike D.

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 12 Oct 2003, 21:33

Thanks everyone.

flyinmike,
from the looks of your tank it seems that a planted environment is a good one for the plecos - interesting, I will try that.
BTW , how do you keep the PH at 6.4? Do you use CO2 injection?
Very nice tank and fish the L-177 looks nice and fat not like the ones I have seen.

mokmu,
I don't see the L-177s around much and if I do it is generally weak looking skinny small fish. As I mentioned the 3+" one I had recently was the biggest one I have seen for sale.
I will try hooking up a tube to the venturi on the powerhead and aiming it - thanks for the tip.

Plec0maniac · Post by **Plec0maniac** » 13 Oct 2003, 07:08

try to look for good quality L177 from the batch.. bec. based from experience its quite hard to get them back to health especially when they were newly imported..

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 13 Oct 2003, 13:53

INXS wrote:Thanks everyone.

flyinmike,
from the looks of your tank it seems that a planted environment is a good one for the pl*cos - interesting, I will try that.
BTW , how do you keep the PH at 6.4? Do you use CO2 injection?
Very nice tank and fish the L-177 looks nice and fat not like the ones I have seen.

I start by using R/O water. It has a KH of 0 and an average pH of 5.8 to 6.0.
I then add appoximately 1/16 of a teaspoon of baking soda per 5 gallons. This raises the KH up to around 35 ppm which in turn naturally buffers the pH up to 6.4. By using the KH to raise the pH it will actually stay there and not keep trying to revert.
I also add Tetra Blackwater extract and Tetra FloraPride. No CO 2 here. The fish make enough of that for me.

INXS · Post by **INXS** » 14 Oct 2003, 03:58

flyinmike,
what type of lighting do you have on that tank? (colortemp, type of light and w/g)
Thanks

flyinmike · Post by **flyinmike** » 14 Oct 2003, 05:43

INXS wrote:flyinmike,
what type of lighting do you have on that tank? (colortemp, type of light and w/g)
Thanks

I have a 48" Allglass brand twin tube flourescent with 1 40w gro-lite bulb & 1 40w cool white bulb and it gets some indirect sunlight (but not a lot).