How do you keep plecos alive?

How big do Baby pleco fish get?

A baby Pleco can grow up to 4 to 6 inches in a fish tank. The size is not suitable for the other species and the same fish in a small water tank. It is a direct indication to transfer the fish into another water container. The right tank conditions and balance size are advantageous to keep the baby fish alive and healthy.

How to keep baby plecos alive?

Keep baby Pleco alive with excellent tank conditions and removal of ammonia. Allow more hiding spots and comfortable sleep for the baby fish. The adequate amount of feed and non-salty water increases their life span. 1 How to Keep Baby Plecos Alive?

Do plecos get bigger?

A pleco does get huge but it takes a few years. You do need to feed it other stuff than your regular fish. Algae wafers, veggies, etc. Also, check your water hardness and other parameters because they dont do well in hard waters occasionally.

How long does it take for a pleco to breed?

When the bristlenose pleco babies reach to between 2 and 3 inches at 6 months or so, they usually are ready to breed. At this point, males will have developed bristles and also tend to a little bigger as they grow faster than females.

How to take care of baby plecos?

Keeping the baby fish in a separate tank will also give them the proper space to live and grow healthier. Keep the baby Plecos alive and happy with this method. Proper feeding is a must in order to make good health of baby fish and maintaining their diet and nourishment. The best thing is that you just have to put the feed and they will eat it.

Can a pleco live on algae pellets?

My pleco lived, probably not thrived, on algae pellets and flakes that made it to the bottom for years. Just recently I started feeding veggies and he has transformed from a hidden bottom feeder to a very active fish.

Do plecos have stripes or spots?

The stripes run laterally along the entire length of the fish. The stripes are imperfect, creating a distinct pattern from fish to fish. The tip of the expansive dorsal fin is covered in a creamy gold color. You might also encounter black Royal Plecos or those that have spots rather than stripes.

How old do bristlenose plecos have to be to breed?

Bristlenose plecos generally start to breed when they’re around 3 inches in length. It’s hard to pin down an exact age, since so much can influence how quickly they grow. That being said, they should normally be breeding at around one year in age, though they can sometimes breed before that.

Do plecos need water quality to breed?

Some may claim plecos breed without concern for water quality, but for breeding success, and certainly to accomplish spawning if it has been a problem, plecos must be treated like any other catfish that requires optimum water conditions. This becomes a big problem when you are putting at least a handful each day of green beans into your tank!

Can you keep baby plecos in a separate tank?

Keeping the baby fish in a separate tank will also give them the proper space to live and grow healthier. Keep the baby Plecos alive and happy with this method. Proper feeding is a must in order to make good health of baby fish and maintaining their diet and nourishment.

Where do plecos like to hide during the day?

Plecos like to have plenty of places to hide during the day. A tunnel or rock should suit them fine, but they especially love driftwood to attach to, as some species will need to chew on it for their daily intake of fiber. These fish can jump, too, so make sure your tank has a secure lid.

What do candy striped plecos like in their tank?

The fish do best in a tank that’s heavily decorated with rocks and driftwood. Plants, while not necessary, are good with this species. Unlike other types of plecos, Candy Striped Plecos usually won’t uproot plants. They can feed on them, but this behavior usually only occurs when they’re not being fed correctly. These plecos are omnivores.

What does a pleco fish look like?

These plecos have developed a reputation for being one of the few types of plecos that consume and digest wood. They have a grayish brown color and red eyes with light horizontal striping. They are considered to be one of the more heavily armored catfish, other than their soft underside.

How to tell if pleco is male or female?

A male is on the left, a female is on the right. The bristlenose pleco can be bred easily if a couple issues are addressed. If a few aspects of their care aren’t done to the fish’s satisfaction then you will be as I was for over 2 years, where nothing I did seemed to trigger a single spawn.

What kind of water do zebra plecos like?

Zebra Plecos prefer warmer waters that are on the neutral side. Anything that’s too alkaline or too acidic can lead to stress and disease. The good news is that the acceptable ranges for temperature, pH balance, and hardness are relatively wide. This ensures that you have some adaptable wiggle room for the fish.

How do you breed a candy striped pleco?

Breeding: The Candy striped pleco has been bred in aquariums. They are cave spawners. The male guards the eggs which are light yellow and roughly 2-3 mm in size. The eggs normally hatch within a week and after another week the yolk sac will usually have been consumed. You can feed the fry newly hatched baby brine shrimp (BBS).

What kind of tank does a candy striped pleco need?

The fish do best in a tank that’s heavily decorated with rocks and driftwood. Plants, while not necessary, are good with this species. Unlike other types of plecos, Candy Striped Plecos usually won’t uproot plants.

Why are candy striped plecos so popular?

They have become very popular in the aquarium trade due to their good looks and peaceful temperament. With having vertical stripes all across their bodies, Candy Striped Plecos are one of the more attractive types of plecos. And with an adult size of 4 inches, they are quite a bit smaller than many types of plecos.

Are bristlenose plecos aggressive?

The aggressive ones are usually the males. However, this is only the case for certain types such as royal Plecos. However, other types like common Plecos and dwarf Plecos are very relaxed, rendering this sexing method fairly ineffective. Do female Bristlenose Plecos have bristles?

How do I Keep my zebra pleco happy and healthy?

The best way to keep your Zebra Pleco happy and healthy is to mimic the waters of Rio Xingu. This doesn’t just apply to decorations. You’ll need to closely replicate water conditions too! Zebra Plecos prefer warmer waters that are on the neutral side. Anything that’s too alkaline or too acidic can lead to stress and disease.

How do you breed pleco fish?

The easiest way to breed these fish is to remove them from the community tank and place the pair in their own breeding tank which contains plenty of caves formed from piping or plant pots. The entrances to the caves should be slightly larger then the fish, if too large an entrance the Pleco may ignore it.

Can plecos get Ich?

But if you have an outbreak of ich or a bacterial or viral infection in your tank, your pleco could catch it. All scaleless fish are sensitive to the salinity levels in their water, so you should be very cautious in using aquarium salt to treat diseases in a tank with a pleco.

What kind of substrate do plecos like?

I usually recommend using aquatic soil, sand or fine gravel for pleco tanks to avoid causing any injury to their abdomen or fins, but Common Plecos are tough and can handle any type of substrate. Commons prefer warm water from 72 to 86°F, so you may not need a heater in your aquarium or outdoor pond.

Are plecos herbivores?

Diet: Herbivore. Live algae, zucchini, cucumber, algae wafers, and veggie wafers are acceptable. As the name suggests, common plecos are the most prevalent pleco in the fishkeeping hobby. Undoubtedly, the common pleco is also one of the most abused fish.

Do plecostomus fish need a heating lamp?

One exception you do have to make is the temperature. plecostomus are tropical fish, so they need slightly warmer water. A heating lamp or pad should do the trick. Keep in mind that these fish are primarily nocturnal and like to hide during the day, so give them some kind of structure in the tank they can attach to out of sight.

Do plecostomus make good pets?

But plecostomus are interesting pets in their own right. Plecostomus are the algae eating sucker fish you see clinging to the sides of aquariums. The main reason most fish owners keep them is to have them clean the sides of the tanks, but I think they are interesting fish in their own right.