I originally thought I wanted a pleco for the reason that most beginning fishkeepers consider them: it seemed like the popular thing to help keep the tank clean. Suffice to say, I've learned the error of my ways since then.
When I originally got my pleco from WalMart, he was about 2" long. There were several months where I would hardly ever see him, and I assumed he was dead or eaten. Why might I assume eaten? Well, I was busy finding a new home for this big white thing:
So it probably was no surprise that I got the impression that the plec was a bit anti-social (or self-preservationist). In any case, the koi got kicked out into a relatives pond, and after a couple of months, I started to see the plec around more often. Usually when I caught him after hours and flicked the light on.
Not only had he grown immensely, as they tend to do, but he began to poke his head out to snatch an algae wafer when coaxed. Then he found a regular hangout on a piece of Mopani wood, and started skitishly exploring when the coast was clear. Just recently, he's gotten so comfortable that he comes out to feed with the other fish. Arent's these things supposed to be nocturnal? He also likes to stake a claim on a section of 4-inch PVC pipe I've buried in the gravel as a tunnel. He'll kick out goldfish that wander in -- loaches are cool though. He's become one of the most interesting members of the tank. (As a side note, if anyone wants to clear up the likely L-number on this guy, I'd appreciate it. I try to work out the ID charts and it makes my head spin.)
When I originally got my pleco from WalMart, he was about 2" long. There were several months where I would hardly ever see him, and I assumed he was dead or eaten. Why might I assume eaten? Well, I was busy finding a new home for this big white thing:
So it probably was no surprise that I got the impression that the plec was a bit anti-social (or self-preservationist). In any case, the koi got kicked out into a relatives pond, and after a couple of months, I started to see the plec around more often. Usually when I caught him after hours and flicked the light on.
Not only had he grown immensely, as they tend to do, but he began to poke his head out to snatch an algae wafer when coaxed. Then he found a regular hangout on a piece of Mopani wood, and started skitishly exploring when the coast was clear. Just recently, he's gotten so comfortable that he comes out to feed with the other fish. Arent's these things supposed to be nocturnal? He also likes to stake a claim on a section of 4-inch PVC pipe I've buried in the gravel as a tunnel. He'll kick out goldfish that wander in -- loaches are cool though. He's become one of the most interesting members of the tank. (As a side note, if anyone wants to clear up the likely L-number on this guy, I'd appreciate it. I try to work out the ID charts and it makes my head spin.)
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