My dad has a small problem with his tank.

Considering that pleco has the ability to get to 20" in a HEALTHY, APPROPRIATE-sized tank, you are doing it a disservice to try to keep it in a 30.

A pleco needs twice the filtration of regular fish and frequent (weekly) water changes.

But judging from your past replies I guess you'll have an excuse as to why it can't be done.
 
I know two places that'll take him, but my dad is to lazy to drive me there. He told me to wait till it gets warmer out to put him in the pond. He's in a 37g now, I asked my dad if he'll take him, but he said no. My dad has a 72g, I think that is large enough for my large pleco.. I may take him a place near my grandparents the next time I'm in their area. I don't want to keep the poor guy in such a small place, right now he's just sitting on the bottom of the tank, he hasn't moved for 3 days. He's breathing but just won't budge. I have to get some days off of work in order to do so, but my boss never lets me have the days off I need.
 
Lol. Well this was an interesting thread to read. First off, If you want help, take advice from others and quit with the excuses before everyone gives up on you. We are all here for one reason: to help and learn from other hobbyist (Ok I guess that's 2). Anyways, you need to learn how to gather information from multiple sources. Don't just take your fathers advice, and assume hes the holder of all knowledge. Just like when you're writing a research paper for school, you're not going to base all your information off of one book. One thing I have learned from being in this hobby, forums are the best source for information (besides your own hands-on experience). This is probably the best help you are going to get, so please take it. Its FREE
 
Use advice which works best for YOU. What may work for others, may not necessarily be best for yourself. That's the beauty of testing new ideas. Even if it fails, you learn and gain more than you lost. If you have difficulty learning new information all at once, just take it slow and it will eventually all come to you with time and repitition.
 
Sorry if this sounds mean - a learning disability is an excuse to not apply yourself to a task and gives you an excuse to quit or take the easy road out. I speak as a person that is also learning disabled. I taught myself how to walk, talk, read, fix my own lunches and many other things. I had several strokes that wiped out my memory of how to do many of those things. Life is not perfect but I never quit trying to learn or re-learn. I don't make excuses for myself (or try not to). Yes, all the things you read can leave you confused so I look for the most common solution that is mentioned more than any other. I try to learn to do it until I can perfect it. Learning something new takes me 4 times longer than most people and since I know that, I work 10 times harder and longer until I can remember it.

My reading comprehension isn't much better than what a 12 year old has (last time I was tested) but I continue to read and look up words that I don't know the meaning of anymore. How well you do something is directly related to how much effort you put into it. I strive for perfection and never seem to make it but it doesn't stop me from trying.

Don't make excuses for yourself. You'll never progress if you do.
 
Vincenia said:
I know two places that'll take him, but my dad is to lazy to drive me there. He told me to wait till it gets warmer out to put him in the pond. He's in a 37g now, I asked my dad if he'll take him, but he said no. My dad has a 72g, I think that is large enough for my large pleco.. I may take him a place near my grandparents the next time I'm in their area. I don't want to keep the poor guy in such a small place, right now he's just sitting on the bottom of the tank, he hasn't moved for 3 days. He's breathing but just won't budge. I have to get some days off of work in order to do so, but my boss never lets me have the days off I need.
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Hmmm, the measurements of your pleco have ranged from 6" I think to now 10", you keep changing his size, but whatever, he's definitely too large for your tank and is suffering. In fact, it sounds like he's dying. What are you feeding him? He needs more than just whatever fish food flakes fall to the bottom. If you have any zuccini in the house, cut off one end and either place it in a shallow bowl with a little water and steam it for several seconds in a microwave, then drop it in the tank. Or attach it uncooked to something weighty so it will sink to the bottom. Pre-cooking it just a bit will help it sink to the bottom. Leave it there for 12 hours then remove it, or it will foul the water. Plecos need some vegetation in their diets, more than they can get from sucking the sides of the tank, or from the tropical fish food your other fish eat. And you should NOT put a pleco in a pond, for several reasons. I don't want to overload you with too much info, so far starters I'll just point out that they need warm temps and yours will die as soon as it gets cold. Why don't you place an ad in Craigslist, maybe someone with an appropriately sized tank will take him for free. Don't try to sell him though, he's too common to be worth anything.
 
I give him algae wafers and he eats those. I can't get him to eat those now, or anything esle. He stilled hasn't moved from the spot he is in now. He'll move slightly but stay in the area, I had him a few years, but I don't think it's his age since plecos do live for a long time. MY dad told me he's getting a heater for the pond, but I think that'll kill the goldfish and my bluegill I put in there last year.
 
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