climbing/jumping long-fined BN's?

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mountain_webste

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May 2, 2007
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I saw beautiful long-fined BN's at my LFS and got one on Saturday. I'd never seen them before. I put it in my QT and the next morning found it dried up on the floor. There was a lid on my QT and the only opening was the area around the HOB filter output.

I figured it was a fluke and he jumped out of that small opening. I went back to my LFS and got another one around noon today. I put a piece of wood over the opening the best I could. Just got home after being out and found this one on the floor. The only thing I can figure is he crawled up the HOB output and jumped from there.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Is this variety more apt to do this sort of thing? I've had regular BN's in the same QT tank/set-up with no issues. I really like the fish long-fin BN's, but at $20 each I'm hesitant to try again.
 
So sorry to hear about your BN plecos. Is there anything wrong with the water you have in the tank right now? What are the parameters like? If it's a QT tank and things aren't stable, I'm guessing he's trying to escape. Try putting something in front of the HOB, and try again. Does your main tank have a lid?
 
My BN was never a jumper, it was in an open top planted tank, but it did commit suicide by wedging itself into my Koralia 1. The first it did it, it got stuck just on the opening and was clear of the prop, I turned it off and let it swim out. The second time it went all way inside of it and was beat up by the prop. Both times, the pump was never off, it overcame the current to kill itself.
 
Chrisinator said:
So sorry to hear about your BN plecos. Is there anything wrong with the water you have in the tank right now? What are the parameters like? If it's a QT tank and things aren't stable, I'm guessing he's trying to escape. Try putting something in front of the HOB, and try again. Does your main tank have a lid?
Click to expand...

I haven't tested the water, but I have 2 roseline sharks also in the QT and they are happy as can be.

The tank where the BN would have ended up in does have a lid but I'm running a HOB on that tank too so I'm afraid to drop another $20 on another flying fish...

Bummer 'cause these guys are really pretty.
 
Every now and then, a bristlenose will swim up the HOB outflow and it results in some sort of mishap that lands him on the floor. They can be out of the water for quite a while compared to other tropical fish and still be ok, so while I've never had one do this, I've had people that bought my plecos tell me their's did this. Some don't make it back in the tank coming down the outflow and wind up on the hood of the tank. If they wind up on top of the hood, they will be able to move with their mouth suction to the edge and fall off. It's the exception rather than the rule, so don't be afraid to try another one. My little baby plecos go up the HOB outflow and stay in the filter chambers, they can't get out.
 
I haven't had that happen but I leave the water level down a couple inches in my Q tank for a few weeks with any fish that might jump. Maybe that would help next time. Sorry you're having bad luck.
 
When I got my LF brown male he swam up the HOB output and made his nest inside the HOB, the female tried for all she was worth to get up there and I couldn't figure out what her deal was until I went looking for the male and couldn't find him so I took the HOB filter out and there he was, right in the bottom happy as can be. I ended up having to lower the water level until they spawned so he would find a new home to call his own.

Maybe your pleco doesn't feel safe.. if there a cave? or wood or anything for him to hide under? I know it's a QT tank, but he's probably been through alot and just wants a place to hide.. of course I am just speculating =)
 
I've had BN climb into the filter when small. I now keep pieces of Aqua Clear filter sponges wedged in between the outtake flow and the front of the filter cartridges to keep them out.
And as someone stated, some place for them to hide may help.
 
I've found BN pleco's and Synodontis lucipinnis will swim up the outflow from a hob, and they don't always make the return trip successfully. A piece of plastic canvas will diffuse the current and cover the gap if you cut it right.
 
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