Cold water pleco

[WyldFya]

they can become hunters, my dad has a huge common that has become a hunter. he has to keep it by itself because it devoured everything he tried to put in there, from green terrors to pacus. no kidding!

My old large common, that was 21.5" SL, was one of the hunters, and took down an 8" bala!

 

[sandtiger]

I personally guarantee that none of my plecos has ever been malnourished, or improperly fed. I have had 3 plecs go to this stage, 2 commons, and 1 chocolate. It isn't the norm as stated earlier, but it does happen. This behavior isn't triggered by feeding types. Of the 60 or so common/chocolate plecs I have had only 3 have become hunters. Just because it doesn't happen to you, does not mean that it has to be the one way you have had it happen.

Three out of sixty? I think your experiance helps illustrate my point. A lot of people say you shouldn't get commons because of their fish eating nature. While some individuals might take a special liking to it it's certainly not the norm and I think in most cases they do it because they are underfed. If you're keeping your plecos in the right conditions I don't think slime coat eating is something that should influence your choice in fish. Really, we're splitting hairs here and only going further offtopic.

 

[phaedraeos]

I found an answer to my own question!

L200 - Hemiancistrus subviridis Green spotted pleco. While not a true coldwater plec, the temps listed on planet catfish seem pretty compatible with the temp I keep my goldfish at.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=223

 

[WyldFya]

I found an answer to my own question!

L200 - Hemiancistrus subviridis Green spotted pleco. While not a true coldwater plec, the temps listed on planet catfish seem pretty compatible with the temp I keep my goldfish at.

http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=223

I would not keep an L200 (either species) in water below 76F. They do not do very well in low temps like that, and are a very active pleco when they are in warm temps. Mine are constantly out, and swimming.

 

[WyldFya]

Three out of sixty? I think your experiance helps illustrate my point. A lot of people say you shouldn't get commons because of their fish eating nature. While some individuals might take a special liking to it it's certainly not the norm and I think in most cases they do it because they are underfed. If you're keeping your plecos in the right conditions I don't think slime coat eating is something that should influence your choice in fish. Really, we're splitting hairs here and only going further offtopic.

This behavior is not a norm, nor is it a sign of poor feeding by the keeper. This does happen, and it isn't that uncommon. I am not talking about slime coat eating, which probably 50 of the 60 have done this. Rather I am talking about plecos that do become aggressive, and actual hunters. This does not show anything towards the diet of the fish.

Since this thread has gone astray so far, and the author has gotten a good answer I am going to close this thread.