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After two of my zebras disappeared I realized the importance of doing head counts. But with shy plecos like L260, what is the best way to do so without stressing out the fish due to peeking into every crevice and cave? My L260s are small juvies still but I don't want to dig through the tank one day to find only one left, kinda deal. As it is now I started with 7 and have seen at least 4 out at a given time.

Best way is to stake caves and slate on top of each other and have it all facing the front glass.

My technique is pretty much the same. My decor is ONLY clay caves that have mouths that are clearly visible.

I have no experience with this, but from reading other posts, it seems that also positioning a powerhead or filter outake perpendicular to the cave openings would help as they seem to perfer greater current (rather than a spray bar or having the current parallel to the cave opening). Hopefully someone can comment on this.

Taratron wrote:After two of my zebras disappeared I realized the importance of doing head counts. But with shy plecos like L260, what is the best way to do so without stressing out the fish due to peeking into every crevice and cave? My L260s are small juvies still but I don't want to dig through the tank one day to find only one left, kinda deal. As it is now I started with 7 and have seen at least 4 out at a given time.

Did you ever figure out how the zebras died?

I'm thinking even if you saw them.....if they died bc of water conditions or something that show no signs then it don't matter.

Agreed with some of the above. I just position everything they can hide in so I can see everywhere

I'd have to say, just fewer ornaments, keep the caves facing outwards, and propping wood up on something, they love hanging underneath and if it's propped up it's easier to see beneath.

If a male hypan takes the alpha male hypan's cave, sometimes the alpha will lock them in the cave with them, kill them, and eat them... Dog eat dog kinda thing, best way to avoid this is to have a cave for each pleco, and an additional one to retreat to after fights.

Actually it turns out only one zebra died. The other 'missing' one apparently was damn good at hiding in a bare tank when I counted.

The L260s seem to like hiding in driftwood though. Hm. Time to have only slate and caves?