do they hide alot, are they nocturnal?

montanafish gal

montanafish gal

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Aug 1, 2009
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Hi again.
I got three baby albino BN Pleco's probably about 6-8 weeks ago. When I got them, they were so tiny, I was afraid that if I put them in my 46 gallon community tank, they would get gobbled up right away. So I put them alone in a five gallon for about 4 weeks. They probably doubled in size to 3/4" long, so I put them in my 5 gallon betta tank. It had a lot of brown algae on the leaves and glass, filter intake, etc. They went to town in that tank and had it sparkling clean in about 3 days. So they stayed there for another two weeks. they are probably an inch or so long. Bigger than an oto. So I figured they were safe to go into my community tank.
3 days ago I put them in. I had the same brown algae all over so I figured they would once again have a great old time. the first 2 days I could spot one or two at a time. Today however, I have not seen them at all. I have never seen the other fish bother them.
So, do BN pleco's like to hide in the daytime? Is this normal to not see them for a while?
Thanks
 
BN plecos are generally more active at night, when the lights are all out. They really don't like bright lights, so they generally hide in dark spaces until the lights are out. We had BN plecos that ended up getting spoiled on fish food, they didn't clean like they did when we first had them.
 
My bristlenose pleco is also sensitive to light but i still see him alot so i dont know, but then again mine is much larger, maybe 4". They're probably fine, just look around after you turn off the lights and see if you can find them. If you want them to clean make sure they dont get used to fish food because the same thing happened to mine as MM:irked:
 
mee-mee said:
BN plecos are generally more active at night, when the lights are all out. They really don't like bright lights, so they generally hide in dark spaces until the lights are out. We had BN plecos that ended up getting spoiled on fish food, they didn't clean like they did when we first had them.
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thanks, I was wondering about that. In the 2 five gallon tanks, they couldn't really find any hiding spots out of my eye. But the 46 gallon tank they are in now is heavily planted with driftwood and caves and all sorts of hiding places.
 
They're probably fine. I threw two of my babies in my 72G discus tank several weeks ago. Now I know how people feel when they throw them in a bigger tank .... from the time I put them in, I'd see only one sometimes, usually within the first hour after lights went on. Sat and had a cup of tea in front on the tank the other day and lo and behold, although I would have bet that one didn't make it, I saw them both out. So even when it's only moderately planted, the little ones find lots of places to clean out of view! They especially like to stay on the driftwood.
 
thanks everyone for the info. It makes me feel alittle better that they are probably still alive and well, just hiding from the light. I miss them tho, I liked watching them in the 5 gallons.... they were funny and cute. (for fish, lol)
 
They can be a little shy- and IME they have a lot longer memories of the net than other fish.

If you want to check on them, put a slice of zuchinni in the tank up front where you can see it after the tank lights go off, and with the room light dim. Sit next to the tank for a little while and you'll see them come out for their midnight snack.
 
thanks all!
 
i agree, put the food in the front and they'll come out. my veggie clip is front and centre at the bottom of my tank and my lil BN knows that is his 'yummy place', lol. he even comes to check it out during lights on when there's no zuch to be nibbled.
 
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