DARN L128 Pleco.!!

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tanker

Josh Holloway--Be mine!!!
Sep 1, 2003
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Jessica
I bought an L128 (blue pleco) last week. Read that it "IS NOT" a plnat eater. Well, guess what... It is eatting holes in my swords. I have lots of swords in my tank but cannot keep up with him. He eats pellets but also likes to eat leaves.
 
Are you sure its not just eating algae off of your plants, and damaging your leaves in the process? This happenes with some fish.

Another possibility is you're not feeding it enough, which might lead it to eat your plants. the LFS may have meant it does not eat plants when given proper amounts of food.
 
I have very little if any algae in my tank. I have about 20+ swords in my tank not counting E. Tenellus and Quadricostatus (both dwarfs). Because of beard-algae I had to take apart tank a few months ago. My tank is heavily planted and with CO2, so have lots of growth.

I got the L128 from a collector--it looks beautiful, but some of my sword leaves look like a Madagascar Laceplant.

I will try feeding zuccinis (spelling) and see what happens.
 
L128 - an absolute stunner and quite similar to L200. Lovely fish - you must be very happy
Sounds like you are a kindred spirit! I only have swords in my 100g and am trying to find tennelus at the moment. In my 30g I have a copuplpe of Behleri. My L102 although stated as not a plant eater is a right fatty and seems to chew on them.
My L114 is not intersted at all.

To stop my L102 I feed raw potato - nice big slice - this keeps him occupied all night (it's really nibbled next morning). I repeat every 3rd day and so far (fingers crossed) he's been leaving the plants alone.
Occasionally a whole fresh muscle (twice monthly)
 
tanker - by pellets do you mean shrimp pellets? also pick up some algae tabs. the wardley brand ones available at walmart are very popular with my plecos and snails - they won't touch the hikari brand. i don't know much about the L128 even though Lord knows I've tried to find out since i want to get one, but you may also want to invest in driftwood. several types of plecos need wood in their diet.
 
wataugachicken said:
i don't know much about the L128 even though Lord knows I've tried to find out since i want to get one, but you may also want to invest in driftwood. several types of plecos need wood in their diet.
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Driftwood should be in a tank with a pleco - mine are always hanging off a bit. Some suppliment their diet with it others just chill on it.

Heres some info form PC on L128. Might be worht checking out stats on L200 as similar species (rumored to be an upstream varient)

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/loricari/ancistri/210_f.php

If you are in UK Southern Aquatics in Christchurch Dorset have a pair (not breeding pair) for £90 and singles for £45 (please don't buy the 3" as I want him!). Breeding pair are stunning at around 4" each.
 
They usually nibble the leaves off swords because the plant was not doing well, how much light do you have for the tank?
 
TONO said:
They usually nibble the leaves off swords because the plant was not doing well, how much light do you have for the tank?
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I have 4 X 96 watt PC bulbs over my 100gal tank. I have CO2 and does K, Fe, and Trace.

Sorry the pellets I feed are Wardley Algae pellets. The tank only has 6 Tiger ottos, 4 "red-fin" ottos, 6 "regular" ottos, 8 bleeding hearts, 12 diamond tetras, and the L128. Just got some zucchini, will also try the potato too.

Thanks for help.
 
Mooch28 said:
Give them cucumber, he may stop chewing on the plants and turn to the cucumber. Worked great on my cown loaches!!
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Thanks..Will try my zuchini (how do you spell it??), then try cucumber, then even potato.

Will post results.
 
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