Unusually Active Rubbernose Plec

[adzilla88]

Hi all,

I recently purchased a rubbernose plec from my LFS about 2 weeks ago. Before getting it, I was aware that they were "shy" nocturnal fish, and I was expecting it to hide in the many caves and densely planted areas of my tank whilst my lights are on.

However, it appears to have taken a liking to a rock at the front of my tank, which it is ALWAYS lying on when I enter the room (day and night. If for any reason it gets scared if someone enters, it will dart back into a cave that's located slightly behing the rock, before simmediately returning to "its rock" when it feels safer.

It also enjoys sucking on the glass, eating algae aswell as making a mess of my gravel with it's irratic swimming. I've also tried feeding corgettes and cucmber with little success.

Is it unusual for a pleco to be this lively, or have I just got lucky and bought an active individual?


Adam

 

[KittyKat]

It is not particularly unusual. I have some Plecos who are only seen at night and some which are happy to prance around the tank all day long.

 

[the biffster]

can i just ask what
size tank you have please
and what size the plec is
as for feeding you can get
a thing called a veggie clip
which holds the cucumber
or courgette i wouldn't leave
it in the tank over night

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Ok I have a different pleco but mine is out most of the time as well. The only exception is when the tank light gets switched on (he's ok if it's been on a while)...and he'll hide under a bridge or in his little hidey hole

 

[adzilla88]

Thanks for the replies.

He's around 3-3.5 inches (should max out at around 5)in size, my tank is 125 litres, so it's about 30gallons.

THE BIFFSTER - I've not tried a veggie clip yet, just certain methods of trying to weight them down. Did you mean you wouldn't leave the veggie clip in overnight, or the actual vegetables?

Yes, turning the lights on spooks mine, although once it's been on for a short while he will venture back out. He also has a habit of poking his head above the surface of the water whilst sucking on the glass, which made me panic when I first witnessed this behaviour. However, after reading some articles on the internet, this seems commonplace for Pleco's to do this.

 

[the biffster]

Thanks for the replies.

He's around 3-3.5 inches (should max out at around 5)in size, my tank is 125 litres, so it's about 30gallons.

THE BIFFSTER - I've not tried a veggie clip yet, just certain methods of trying to weight them down. Did you mean you wouldn't leave the veggie clip in overnight, or the actual vegetables?

Yes, turning the lights on spooks mine, although once it's been on for a short while he will venture back out. He also has a habit of poking his head above the surface of the water whilst sucking on the glass, which made me panic when I first witnessed this behaviour. However, after reading some articles on the internet, this seems commonplace for Pleco's to do this.

don't leave the veggie food in over night
it can make a mess when it
starts to brake down

 

[adzilla88]

what other vegetables do you recommend?

 

[the biffster]

what other vegetables do you recommend?

blanched or raw potato
lettuce blanched cabbage
strawberries {peas shelled
carrots parsnip} these need
to be blanched as well