Pleco Information - Quick Question

[Newms]

Hi all! Newbie here! I have had tropical fish for years but the past year i didnt have time to look after them so i went down the cold fish route

I got a cold water Pleco at present. But would that be ok to put in a tropical tank? Or is there actually a differance between the cold water and tropical ones?

Sorry to sound thick!

 

[SJ2K]

I dont really know alot (all be it anything) about cold water fish in general but I would say not. If the fish originates from cold water the shift is unlikely to be successful. Feel free to wait for confirmation.

 

[Newms]

Its just strange that the shops never advertise them to be different and they seem to be taken from the same tank? I bought my cold water pleco from the tropical section when i asked for one???

Thanks for the quick reply

 

[SJ2K]

Wo, thats wierd, never heard of this one before! If you dont get a more deffinative respose here, go to the catfish sections then post this in the Pleco sub-forum

 

[Darkstar]

There are no cold water plecs...all plecs should be in tropical tanks. So yes it's fine to put it in a tropical tank as it shouldn't be in coldwater anyway.

 

[shroob]

Just an idea, but are you sure its an actual plec?
My local P@H has hillstream loaches in their coldwater section, they sort of look like plecs, with a sucking mouth.
Heres an article on them:
http/www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/...?article_id=142

ps, Ive never heard of a cold water plec either.

 

[Newms]

Its 100% not a loaches. 100% a plec... Its lived in cold water for almost a year now. It was a inch long when i got and its now a good 8inch min.

Thanks for your help guys!

 

[england]

yes the plec i imagine your talking about is the common pleco....its from south america and grow large...they should be kept in tropical conditions but because they can handle lower temps theyve been thrown into cold water tanks and sold as cold water plecs,,,,if you add it to a warm tank make sure you ajust it to the temp 1st....and you will see how quickly itll grow as cold water slows down the growth rate conciderably also iam guessing its qiute pale in colouration?itll darken up a hell of a lot...i knowbecause i had a common in cold water whos now in a trop tank

 

[mark.w.jones]

Common plecs are well known for being the terminator of the fish world. Nothing seems to kill them, infact I reckon they would probably survive in a toilet cistern if asked too. Unfortunately these beautiful fish often outgrow most people tanks and commonly mis sold to people who rarely provide ideal conditions. However, most don't die but live thoroughtly miserable lives with stunted growth in poorly maintained tanks and if their lucky end up with loads of others in a local aquarium.