Sand and loricarids

azn_phil · Post by **azn_phil** » 21 Oct 2003, 02:00

SHould i be scared that they will eat sand? its silica sand and i have the plecs in there for a day now, but if in nature most live in mud i think its ok

Post by **Shane** » 21 Oct 2003, 02:04

Works great and makes a huge difference with the sand sifters like Loricaria sp. I had two large Loricaria sp. "Colombia" in a heavily planted tank with gravel for six months and they did fine. Two nights ago I was consolidating and moved them to a tank with a sand substrate. They are now 100 percent more active (and more fun) as they cruise about sifting the sand through their gills. Reminds me of watching Geophagus.
-Shane

azn_phil · Post by **azn_phil** » 21 Oct 2003, 05:00

i have an L103 (large clown plec lookalike), an 8" rhino plec, and 4 smaller plecs (gold ancis., red rhineloricaria, orange spotted plec, and a clown plec) i kno its a little overcrowded in a 50 gal.,

so what you are trying to say is that all of those above plecs not only do not mind the sand substrate, but it is better for them?

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » 21 Oct 2003, 22:54

I have sand in all my tanks and all my Catfish love it Plec's,Banjo's.Corys,Whips...etc. But i've notecied this on one of my pictures!! Sand stuck to the L163 gills! Any harm in this?

Graeme.

aeroflight · Post by **aeroflight** » 22 Oct 2003, 05:17

The only "problem" I've had with sand in my tank is that my sailfin often has a whole heck of a lot of sand in his waste. By the end of the week he's re-plumbed the tank with sandy tubes.

It's really no big deal. It doesn't seem to bother him at all. And like the others said, he'll dig a little in it, too.

der Ingo · Post by **der Ingo** » 23 Oct 2003, 05:01

I love sand too. I have a tank with black sand and not only does it look spectacular, but the fish like it too.

By the way,great looking gold nugget Graeme! It looks gorgeous.