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BN = "bristlenose" an Ancistrus sp. pleco.

Yes, my correction it should haver read L24 and L25, not L25 and L26.

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There is always a bigger fish...

Yeah, I know it's "leopard", as you call it. We know them here as red cactus. I couldn't recall what L-026 was off the top of my head, so I did a google search, and it is not a psuedacanth at all. In fact, it is a baryancistrus sp., which is not even closely related (anatomically) to the genus pseudacanthicus. IME L-114 is the only plec that has the nmae "cactus" in it (several other psuedacanths share this, but these are as of yet still unidentified). L-026s sometimes come into the shop, and are usually labelled as blood zebras, although most others seem to refer to them as scarlet plecos.

EDIT: Spelling and grammar.



Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 18-Nov-2004 01:46

Okay, maybe I can help get this back on topic.

I'v had a BN for a couple of weeks now and he doesn't touch zucchini, spinach or cucumber from what I've seen. Does this mean he isn't hungry enough to go after them or could he be very fussy? He also doesn't seem interested in algae wafers. I'm getting worried b/c there isn't much algae in the tank anymore, since he's been in there. He's very active in the day searching for food, but even when I drop vegetables right next to him he just goes around them sucking on rocks.



Also, the person at the lfs said broccoli isn't good for them because it's a bud not a leaf. I've never heard that before so I'm not sure if that's a common opinion?

Actually that is a Leopard L114, Pseudacanthicus leopardous, and not a cactus. The Cactus is the L26, and the Red Cactus, Devil cactus, ect are the L25. As the leopard does not show the armored scale spines nearly as much as the cactus plecos do.

As this is getting off topic, I don't want to highjack this thread, so I have started a new thread. In it I have discussed the colder water plecos.

http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Bottom%20Feeder%20Frenzy/50271.html?05926562

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There is always a bigger fish...

thanks for the suggestions and experiences, everyone

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Back in the saddle!

I am very familiar with DATZ and L numbers, thank you very much. What I'm saying is that most loricariids will eat just about any food placed into the tank, whether or not it makes up the mainstay of their natural diet or not.

Firstly, I would really love to see a loricariid which requireds 45 or less degrees farenheit for it to thrive. The coldest streams of C.A. get to maybe 20 degrees farenheit--probably the coldest loricariid compatible temps I've ever heard (whips and several others come from these streams). Where the temperatures really dive is at the southern tip of SA, where ther are few, if any, loricariids around. On the other hand, even wood eating panaques will not die if you do not aquire DW for them to feed on, though they won't be as happy without it. One can supplement the cellulouse and lignin by feeding them a variety of uncooked, fiberous foods.

Ancistrus sp, as shown above, do not actually have two rows of teeth. the fleshy lobe is sparingly toothed, used more for suction/leverage than anything else. The inner arc of the mouth, however, is covered uniformly with inward facing, nearly barbed teeth. These fish are known to eat insect larvae in the wild, and will readily feed on protein in the home aquarium.

Panaque species usually have their diamond arranged teeth nearly flat via the surface, and while they eat good amounts of wood, a great deal of their diet subsides on the detritus scraped off of surfaces. If these fish were primarily wood eaters, their teeth would not fall flat against the surface, but rather curve inwards for shaving. They will feed on protein, along with vegetable matter.

Pseudacanthicus sp., especially the red cactus shown, are HEAVY carnivorous feeders. They will also take several varieties of vegetables. While their lower part of the feeding lobe is fleshy and relatively dull, the upper set of teeth are rough and sharp edged, running close to parallel. This allows the animal to grip the surface, and carve away at the food item. In the wild, they feed mainly on filtering organic material across their mouths, hence the protruding, fleshy lip. These fish are not heavy driftwood feeders.

Hypancistrids, while being heavily carnivorous are not devoid of vegetable affinity. If you've ever seen my queen feeding on cucumber, I'd say you'd think otherwise. No species of this genus is known to consistently eat algae.

99%???? I suggest you read the DATZ more closely. Also, many have special requirements such as the need to have drift wood to eat, and without this in their diet they will perish, no matter how much plant matterial you have to feed them. Some require cold water conditions, as low as 45 degrees F. While others have other requirements.

If you really want to know what to feed your plecos, you first must visualize their teeth. This can be seen while they are hanging on the glass. For algae, they will have two rows of teeth on the top and bottom, that will have a sand paper appearance. As in this pic or A temminckii


Or this pic of the gibbiceps;

The Panaque have teeth that are like a file rake. small singular teeth used for raking or shaving wood. These fish will perish extremely quickly without driftwood in their diets. The leopards, or Pseudacanthicus have teeth simular to those of the algae eaters on the top only, and on the bottom, they have teeth that are like a file rake. These fishs' diets must consist of drift wood for them to survive. They will take out a large piece of drift wood completely in a matter of months. Their teeth are adapted for eating plants (algae) as well as the driftwood. A leopard shown here;

Then we get into the groups of meat eaters, or carnivors. The Hypancistrus genus is probably the best know, as the zebra pleco is within this genus, Hypancistrus zebra. Pic of one here;

These fish will starve if not given ample amounts of protein in their diets. Though some may graze on the algae, and some may not, the protein requirement is still needed for these fish to survive. And those that do graze on the algae are usually not getting the required protein in their diets, so they are trying to find it within the tiny critters living within the algae environment. Their digestive tracts are designed for meaty foods and not veggitative matter, so very little if any of the vegitable matter is digested.

And, on a final note; If you are really interested in learning more about these fish, I highly suggest you obtain a copy of the DATZ L-numbers book. It is a more complete L-number book than any in the world. This book is the reason that the Aqua-Log books, came out with a second updated version. Because it was inferior to this one. As well, the DATZ L-number book was written in part by Ingo Seidel, known to most catfish experts, as the utmost authority on plecos and loricariid. Here is a link to the DATZ website. It is only in German though. The DATZ L-numbers book is printed in both German and English. It lists all plecos/loricariid, from L-1 to L-387.
http://www.datz.de/[/font][/font][/font][/font][/font]

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There is always a bigger fish...

If by plecos you mean loricariids, your numbers are off. I would wager to say 99% of them are omnivorous. Even animals that are herbivorous in nature will turn to protein based foods if given the chance (i.e. par/otocinclus, ancistrus, farowellas, etc). On the other hand, most heavy protein feeders such as hypancistrids and much of the acanthids will graze on vegetable matter to supplement their diet, even in the wild. Btw, most loricariids are neither heavily herbivorous or heavily carnivorous. Instead, they rasp away at surfaces, removing the organic film and/or materials deposited onto them (i,e, baryancistrus, dekeyseria, chaetestoma, sturistoma, pterygoplichthys, and many more).



Last edited by Cup_of_Lifenoodles at 16-Nov-2004 22:16

About 50% of the plecos are herbavores, while about 20% are carniverous, and the other 30% are omnivores.

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There is always a bigger fish...

I'm sure this has been done before but the search engine on this site isn't working so I can't find it...

how does one go about feeding veggies to a BN? and what are some good veggies to feed them? ive been feeding mine spirulina disks but i feel that's getting old, and i'd like to give her something new for a change. any thoughts? thanks!

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Back in the saddle!

I'm not sure what BN stands for being new to the world of fish. I have a Pleco, does all this apply to it also? Would say him or her but haven't looked up how to sex him yet! I do that now. Thanks

Mine relish different squashes and zuccini. I put it in completely raw, no blanching, freezing, or anything. But some of those lead weights at your LFS for holding down plants. Maybe you have bought some plants with them on it. They are a flat long peice of lead weight. Anyway, just slice the piece to feed them, and run the weight through the soft part, and wrap it around the skin. They usually won't eat the skin. This will hold it down. Mine finish them off over night, or at latest, two nights. I feed my red lizards the yellow/orange squash to help keep their extreme red colors. Carrots are good as well, and for the yellow and red colors of the fish, the betacaratine in the carrots will make these fish more redish.

I will try to get a pic up next week, as I need a new battery for the camera.

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There is always a bigger fish...

My BNs hate raw broc. They will, however, eat peas, spinach, cucumber, and squash.

:88)broccoli is a new one to me I shall try it tomorrow Mine like cucumber, croquette and peas they don't seem so keen on lettuce though.

http://www.greenspersonalprinting.com/

I tried fresh broccoli -- my BN didn't like it. Definitely try blanching it first. Zucchini works very well; my BN likes it a lot.

you would want to blanch it first.
Boil water and drop it in for a 5-7 minutes, transfer to cold water. Voila!


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i have a bit of fresh broccoli in my fridge right now - would i only need to rinse it off before putting it in the tank, or does it need to be boiled...?

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Back in the saddle!

My BNs are particularly fond of broccoli. I use frozen, when I want to feed it I thaw it in a bit of water then attach it to a rock with a small rubberband.

Mine also like frozen peas. I thaw them, remove the shell, break them in half and drop them in the tank.



Theresa_M attached this image:


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