Hello. I am fish-cycling a tank with 2 rubber lip plecos. They have been in the tank about 26 hrs. When if at all is it normal for them to come out of hiding (I have many hiding places in the tank -- I can't find either of them except for when 1 of the 2 of them hangs out near an aerator bar out in the open)?
This is my first fish tank, the plecos are my first fish. I know this probably isn't a good practice -- I have moved rocks and a PVC fitting in the tank when I couldn't see them to find them/ see if they were ok. when I lifted whatever they were under/on/in, they darted away and found new hiding places
Also, when do they normally start eating? I attached cucumber to a rock with a rubber band near the middle of the tank and I am going to leave it there tonight.
thank you for answers. do you have any other advice?
INFO:
water temp = 76F
pH = 7.4-7.6 (pH and high pH tests read differently -- so I'm guessing about 7.5)
ammonia/ammonium = 0 ppm
nitrite = 0 ppm
nitrate = 0 ppm
40 gallon tank
EHEIM 2215 canister filter
rena 101 air pump (connected to aerators on left and right side)
EHEIM 125W heater
substrate = /gravel , flourite underneath (<--I'm planning to plant the tank at some point)
4" diameter PVC Y fitting , driftwood (plants attached), rocks
This is my first fish tank, the plecos are my first fish. I know this probably isn't a good practice -- I have moved rocks and a PVC fitting in the tank when I couldn't see them to find them/ see if they were ok. when I lifted whatever they were under/on/in, they darted away and found new hiding places
Also, when do they normally start eating? I attached cucumber to a rock with a rubber band near the middle of the tank and I am going to leave it there tonight.
thank you for answers. do you have any other advice?
INFO:
water temp = 76F
pH = 7.4-7.6 (pH and high pH tests read differently -- so I'm guessing about 7.5)
ammonia/ammonium = 0 ppm
nitrite = 0 ppm
nitrate = 0 ppm
40 gallon tank
EHEIM 2215 canister filter
rena 101 air pump (connected to aerators on left and right side)
EHEIM 125W heater
substrate = /gravel , flourite underneath (<--I'm planning to plant the tank at some point)
4" diameter PVC Y fitting , driftwood (plants attached), rocks