Re: Pleco For Mac Os
Sabelia Ewings
Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper parts of the head and body (the lower surface of head and abdomen is naked soft skin). Although the name Hypostomus plecostomus is often used to refer to common plecostomus sold in aquarium shops, most are actually members of other genera.[4][1]
Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a food fish, although they are at least occasionally consumed over their native range.[2] A demand exists for them, however, as a bottom cleaner in the aquarium trade.[5]
This species' native range is tropical northeastern South America; it naturally occurs in northeastern Brazil, the Guianas, and Trinidad and Tobago.[3] Confusingly, the name Hypostomus plecostomus (or Plecostomus plecostomus) has sometimes been incorrectly used for several more-or-less similar loricariid catfishes, both in the popular and scientific literature. For example, it has sometimes been suggested that it occurs in southern Central America, but this is an entirely separate species, Hemiancistrus aspidolepis (also known under another synonym, Hypostomus panamensis).[6][7]
Some Loricariidae species have been widely introduced to several countries around the world and reported as H. plecostomus.[3] It is erroneous,[1] and the concerned species belong to the genus Pterygoplichthys (either P. pardalis,[8] P. disjunctivus,[9] P. anisitsi[10] or P. multiradiatus[11]). In the United States, a Pterygoplichthys species has been introduced to some regions in the South, most likely released by aquarists into the local waters. For example, they are present in a lake in the neighborhood of Hammock Trace Preserve in Melbourne, Florida. In Texas, reproducing populations occur in spring-influenced habitats of the San Antonio River (Bexar County), Comal Springs (Comal County), San Marcos River (Hays County), and San Felipe Creek (Val Verde County), as well as in drainage canals in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston.[12][13]
The same identification issues have spread in the literature regarding the invasive catfishes in Taiwan, with H. plecostomus being one of the numerous names used to designate the species: DNA studies showed the alien fishes were actually P. pardalis and P. disjunctivus (that hybridise extensively).[14]
Hypostomus plecostomus is named for its sucker-like mouth, which allows it to adhere to a surface, as well as to hold and rasp at food, including newly hatched and baby golden apple snails as well as Malaysian trumpet snails.[16] This omnivorous species also feeds on algae, aquatic plants, and small crustaceans.[17][citation needed]
Hypostomus plecostomus is one of many species of fish that is able to breathe air. Hypostomus plecostomus relies on its gills for respiration in normal and slightly hypoxic water, and the less oxygen present in the water, the more frequently it surfaces to breathe air.[18] The air is taken to the stomach where the oxygen is absorbed, and the air can be kept in the stomach to increase buoyancy, which may help it to feed on vegetation.[19]
H. plecostomus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as "plecostomus" or "common pleco" by aquarists. These fish are sold when they are young and small, but in the wild, they can grow to be a maximum size of 50 centimetres (20 in).[3] In captivity, however, a full-grown Hypostomus plecostomus only reaches 15 inches (38 cm) on average, which could be explained by the subpar oxygen levels in most home aquaria and other practices of bad fish husbandry.[20] In the aquarium trade, this dark-colored, bottom-feeding, nocturnal catfish is often purchased for its ability to clean algae from fish tanks but also contributes a lot of waste to the nitrogen cycle. They are difficult for other fish to harass, both due to the semi-aggressive nature of the fish as well as its thick armor.[21]
In Bangladesh, the species, among some other suckermouth catfishes has become invasive. The government is currently on its way to impose a ban on the farming, hatchling production, breeding, marketing and trading of the fish.[22] It has also raised serious concern in India and Sri Lanka.[23]
Ok, well it only took about an hour and my pleco became dinner, which really surpised me because I put it in the tank with the "slow" turtles. I really bought it for algae control, which I really need, and I feel really guilty that the poor thing got eaten! Now what am I gonna do, I've had chinese algae eaters in there but they didn't really seem to curb the algae growth and most of them became dinner. I threw a larger snail in and we'll see if that helps, but if it doesn't I'm at a loss. Everything I've been trying either doesn't make a dent in the algae or gets eaten. This stinks. Any help for me anyone?
Hmmm... I am in the same boat. The RES will eat anything. I find when algae starts to grow, it's hard to control it. I find the best way it clean and scrub everything and put the algae eaters in before the alage starts. Of course, keep the tank out of direct sunlight. But that doesn't solve the problems of the turts eating the algae removers. Sorry, not much help. I would like some solutions as well.
I have a Belize slider that I bought as a hatchling and shortly after I got it I put molly and some other fish with it after attempting to eat them she stopped. She would try and sometimes be able to catch them but for the most part no. I now only have two minnows with her and there doing fine. I also have a 60 gallon tank for two small turtles a black knobbed map and a stripe neck musk they also live with a bristel nosed pleco, gold sevrum, 1.1 molly, 1.1 playties, and CAE. The fish where in the cage 2-3 months before the turtles while I waited to find them forsale and its been 4 plus months now deaths some platyies babies and mollies too and I've added a apple snail. Now I may have just slow turtles and they aren't really fish eatters by nature but I really do think if you put fish with them from the start then the turtles can be less likely to eat them. Also the fish will get used to them and be aware of hiow to avoid getting eatten.
I keep a fresh water aquarium - my turtles are in a different tank - and I keep live plants as well. Algae is a constant problem but it can be licked. But I've found that the Algae eating fish can not really eat enough Algae to solve the prob. 5 of my fish - including an Chinese Algae eater - and they can not keep my tank free of Algae. Its really an issue of water chemistry and quality. Nitrate is a big contributor to Algae growth. So frequent water changes are important. You can add a buffer to your filter to control nitrate. Phosphate is also a contributor to algae growth. Again there are buffers you can add to your filter to control phosphate. Fish are not going to do the job for you. Algae are simple plants (sort of) and therefore are more like weeds in a garden. You are always going to have some algae. You just have to work to keep it to a minimum. There is a lot of literature on this subject in the fresh water fishing books / mags / websites.
I've kept a pleco with my loggerhead musks since they were babies. The pleco was always larger, and now he's huge compared to them. They have never bothered him. Like Tom said, make sure the fish is always larger than the turtles. And, it probably helps to have a good sized tank so he can swim away and hide.
I have gotten sick and tired of them eating every living thing I put in there. Especially if I don't want them to eat it. THE ONLY solution I have come up with in the past year is to keep the tank out of direct sunlight. You will probably get a smidge of algae from your basking lights but not enough to make the tank look dirty. I have tried everything from snails to plecos to several different types of fish algae eaters and plecos. EVERYTHING has gotten eaten. And unfortunately with the plecos and snails, since I got them so big thinking they were too big to eat I had to endure watching some pretty beautiful LARGE creatures get ripped apart! I can't watch that kind of stuff. So NOTHING goes in my tank unless I want it eaten. I KNOW others have had great luck with tank mates. Not me, and I don't want a gorgeous apple or mystery snail that is 3 or 4 years old to get nipped and snipped at until they are suffering and just give up and get eaten. Plus I had a VERY TRAUMATIC experience with a very large pleco and my big girl Rosy. She took one big bite out of the plecos back and it was sick. There was blood in the tank and the poor pleco was thrashing around in pain. I had to walk away and then.....when I cleaned the tank I got to be literally face to face with the pleco, cuz that is all they left of him (his bony face). I said no more. They get rosies or some guppies or maybe some "potato chip" plant snails for live food. But that's pretty much it. Like I said, some have good luck. But never assume that what you put in there may not eventually become dinner. You could even have them in there for a long time and one day....Poof..gone. So, sorry about your pleco, but..
Yeah, that was the problem with this pleco, it was only slightly smaller than the turtle and it took a while for her to eat it and it really broke my heart watching the poor thing get devoured like that. I mean, I know I'm a weanie, but it was just sad because I thought I bought this really cool fish and then it was brutally killed.
I'm using Siamese Algae Eaters as the clean up squad. They are really fast and are constantly on the move. Never had any problems with my guys getting hold of them. They get up to about 6" in length and are probably the most efficient algae eaters available. They'll eat algaes that even a Pleco won't touch.
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