Can Common Pleco's Smell?

[Durbkat]

I have a common pleco in a long 20g (Iknow about their size and I have a plan on what to do when it becomes a problem) and whenever I put his food in their (sinking algae wafers) it sits their for a minute and the pleco comes out from resting (on back wall of tank) and searches the tank and finds the food in under 40 seconds so I was wondering if he can smell the food when I drop it in?

 

[laurasmithuk]

a common pleco is going to get way too big for a 20 gallon

 

[Durbkat]

I believe I already said that I have a plan on what to do with him once he gets to big. just read all of what I wrote in my original post. So can anyone else answer me question?

 

[Durbkat]

I have a common pleco in a long 20g (Iknow about their size and I have a plan on what to do when it becomes a problem) and whenever I put his food in their (sinking algae wafers) it sits their for a minute and the pleco comes out from resting (on back wall of tank) and searches the tank and finds the food in under 40 seconds so I was wondering if he can smell the food when I drop it in?

So can they?

 

[collared_drifter]

YES plecs can smell...gosh no one else would answer...

 

[morgan]

I also have a Common Pleco in a 20gal tank with plans to move it to a bigger tank soon. Can I ask what size tank you are going to get? I am hoping to get a 60 - 80 gal. I didn't answer your question because I don't know the answer. My Pleco sometimes swims right past his algae wafer and doesn't seem to notice it straight away.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

60-80gals will be ok, but most of it depends on tank dimensions more than anything else- because common plecs are bottom dwellers they need alot of space at the bottom of the tank, the tank needs to be at least 2ft wide and 4ft long minimum, the wider and longer the better.
Indoor ponds are cheaper to buy than glass aquariums and the plastic tubs doesn't wiegh as much, i am hoping to adopt a sailfin plec soon and have him in a small indoor pond .
Also i do believe common plecs can smell or have a similar sensor system because my common plec can get to an algae wafer in under a minute even though i can't see me drop them in from his cave.

 

[Durbkat]

I'm not sure on the size yet because it all depends on how much money I have. But I don't think he will get to big because he was in a 10g for a year before I knew about how big they got or how they could get stunted and after a year of having him in a 10g when he was already 4"to 5" long until now when he is only 5" to 6" long I unfortuanly think he is alittle stunted because I've read on here how their common pleco got to be from 2" to 6" in 6 months I would think he would have gotten bigger if he wasn't stunted. So I might get some thing alittle longer than a long 20g like maybe a long 30g or something. Not sure yet.

 

[Durbkat]

I know its alittle off topic but can my common pleco be a bully? Because I was just looking at the tank and I noticed all the tetras are at the bottom because I need to get more of them to feel more secure but I noticed that the pleco was kinda chasing them he would go towards them and they would run away and now all five of them are hiding in a corner behind a big plant and when the pleco goes back to he spot in the back off the tank they came back out and when he comes out they hide when he starts coming towards them. Is this signs of aggression or what.

 

[fish_keeper2]

he may just being cranky or the others are just scared becuase of his size. try asking in the catfish section.

i think you would be better off getting the bigest tank you can aford now rather than getting one slightly bigger and then haveing to upgrade again in the future. btw how are you going to get a larger tank you are only 14 and in my area there are very few jobs that i know of that hire under 16. im looking at aporx. 400 bucks on a 29 gal tank and that includes everything ill need and i need 2 29 gal or larger pretty soon.

 

[Durbkat]

HOLY CRAP!!!! That's alot of money. I get money for baby sitting and I get money for my good grades on my report card. And I could get a used tank. But the bad thing is that I don't have any more room in my bedroom. My 10g and long 20g take up all the room on the wall that doesn't get hit by the sun.

 

[fish_keeper2]

this maybe bad advise but try putting a tank in part of the room that gets some sunlight. any algea that grows can and will easily be cleaned up by plecs and ottos.

almost forgot....ya sometimes u can get lucky with a used tank. im my local newspaper i saw a 55 gal with everything including decor for 200 so i would probly just have to add another 150 or so to get new gravel and plants and stuff. if i get enough when i get payed on friday and the tank is still for sale im gonna go check it out.

 

[MasterP]

I wish i got paid for my grades, but i don't. Instead i ref soccer games on saturdays. I got 60 dollars last weekend and i'm getting 52 dollars this weekend. I'm saving up for a 46 gallon tank.