MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum - View Single Post - How do I keep a pleco alive for more than a month?

Ovrclckd · 05-26-2001, 12:07 AM

[quote author=Smurfette link=board=beginner&num=990848481&start=0# 0 date=05/25/01 at 20:41:21]
I have a 25 gallon 2 year old established community tank with guppies balloon mollies, tetras etc. all of which are doing very well. *My tank is at about 78 degrees with as neutral a pH as I can get, and I have tried the plecos in freshwater with no salt, and also water with 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons (to keep the guppies happy!) *neither method has increased the life expectancy of my pleco. *I always try to buy as big a pleco as I can find (usually about 5-6 cms long.)

I have a lot of green algae - it is trailing off the plastic plants, and I also add an algae wafer per day in case the pleco is still hungry. *What am I doing wrong? *Any suggestions before I go and kill another unsuspecting pleco?
[/quote]

I assume you test your water, any ammonia, nitrites?

Other things... plecos and many other types of catfish can't take salt, so stop using salt. Lower your temp to say 76. Add driftwood to the tank if you don't already have it. Those plecos are also quite small, you should try to get them at about 4" or 10cm.

Algae wafers are a pretty good staple for plecos, you might want to add cucumber or lettuce to supplement.

You really aren't doing anything wrong... its odd that they are dying...

05-26-2001, 12:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Ovrclckd Little Fish Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 150	Re: How do I keep a pleco alive for more than a mo [quote author=Smurfette link=board=beginner&num=990848481&start=0# 0 date=05/25/01 at 20:41:21] I have a 25 gallon 2 year old established community tank with guppies balloon mollies, tetras etc. all of which are doing very well. My tank is at about 78 degrees with as neutral a pH as I can get, and I have tried the plecos in freshwater with no salt, and also water with 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt per 5 gallons (to keep the guppies happy!) neither method has increased the life expectancy of my pleco. I always try to buy as big a pleco as I can find (usually about 5-6 cms long.) I have a lot of green algae - it is trailing off the plastic plants, and I also add an algae wafer per day in case the pleco is still hungry. What am I doing wrong? *Any suggestions before I go and kill another unsuspecting pleco? [/quote] I assume you test your water, any ammonia, nitrites? Other things... plecos and many other types of catfish can't take salt, so stop using salt. Lower your temp to say 76. Add driftwood to the tank if you don't already have it. Those plecos are also quite small, you should try to get them at about 4" or 10cm. Algae wafers are a pretty good staple for plecos, you might want to add cucumber or lettuce to supplement. You really aren't doing anything wrong... its odd that they are dying...